404 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Conii. Extract of Conium. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with acetic acid and diluted 



alcohol, and evaporation to pilular consistence. (U. S. P.) 



Dose.— H. & C, gr.xii.-xxiv. (.72-1.5); Sh. & Sw., gr.ii.-iv. (.12-.24); 



D., gr.M-i. (.015-.06). 



Extractum Conii Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Conium. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with acetic acid and diluted 



alcohol, and evaporation so that 1 Coi^ 1 Gm. of the crude drug. 



Dose.— H. & C, 3 i.-ii. (4.-8.) ; Sh. & Sw., mx -xx. (.6-1.3) ; D., 



mii.-v. (.12-.3). 



ACTION OF CONIUM AND CONINE. 



External. — Conine is an irritant applied to mucoua 

 membranes. Conium is thought to act as a local sedative 

 upon raw surfaces. Physiological experiments show that 

 the sensory nerves are but slightly depressed. 



Internal— Circulation. — Conium has little effect upon 

 the digestive apparatus, except in toxic doses, when it may 

 cause irritation, vomiting and diarrhoea. It is absorbed and 

 produces primary acceleration of the pulse, probably owing 

 to paralysis of the pueumogastric, followed by a fall in the 

 pulse rate. The action on the circulation is insignificant 

 compared to that on the nerves. 



Nervous System arid Muscles. — The predominant action 

 of conium consists in paralyzing the voluntary and in- 

 voluntary muscles, with loss of motion but without loss 

 of consciousness or sensation. That this effect is due 

 to paralysis of the motor nerves has been proved by 

 poisoning frogs with conium after ligature of the aorta, so 

 til at the blood supply to the hiud legs was cut off. Failure 

 of motion and reaction to galvanism occurs in the fore legs, 

 but irritation of the paralyzed fore legs causes reflex con- 

 traction of the posterior extremities. This experiment shows 

 that the motor nerves are paralyzed in the fore legs, but 

 that the sensory nerves and spinal cord retain their func- 

 tional activity. The afferent nerves are somewhat depressed 

 by enormous doses. The brain and spinal cord are slightly 



