ACONITE 435 



Dtscription. — From 10 to 20 Mm. thick at the crown ; 

 conically contracted below ; from 50 to 75 Mm. long, with 

 scars or fragments of radicles ; dark brown externally, 

 whitish internally, with a rather thick bark; the central 

 axis about seven-rayed ; without odor ; taste at first sweetish, 

 soon becoming acrid and producing a . sensation of tingling 

 and numbness which lasts for seme time. 



Constituents. — The alkaloid representing the action of 

 the drug is aconitine (CggH^aNOij?), which is precipitated by 

 ammonia from an aqueous solution of an alcoholic extract 

 of the root of various species. It is a colorless, crystalline, 

 or amorphous, gray powder, almost insoluble in water, and 

 soluble in 40 parts of alcohol or ether, and 1 part of chloro- 

 form. Its salts are soluble in water. 



Commercial preparations vary in purity and strength, 

 and since it is extremely poisonous (an Indian'arrow poison) 

 its internal administration is undesirable, Pseudo-aconitine 

 (CggH^gNOu), aconine (CoeHjgNOji), and other alkaloids in com- 

 bination, with aconitic acid, (CgHeOJ have been obtained 

 from aconite, but their identity and chemistry are un- 

 certain. 



Aconite Dose. — H, & C, gr.iii-xx. (.2-1.3) ; D., gr.-^-iL 

 (.006-.12). 



Aconitince Nitras, (Squibb.) Subcutaneously. 



H., gr.^ (.002) ; D., gx.-^^^ (.0003..0006). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Tinctura Aconiti. Tincture of Aconite. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Teinture de racine d'aconit, Fr.; eisenhuttinktur, G. 

 Made by maceration and percolation of aconite, 350; with alcohol and 

 water to make 1000. (U. S. P.) 



Dose.—B.., TTlv.-xxx. (.3-2.); C, 3 ss.-i. (2.-4.); Sh. & Sw., ttiv.-x. 

 (.3-.6);D,, mss.-v. (.03-.3). 



Extr actum Aconiti Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Aconite. (U. S. P.) 



Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol and water, and 

 evaporation, so that 1 Cc. = 1 Gm. of the crude drug. 



Dose.— H & C, miii.-xx. (.2-1.3); D., mt^-ii. (006- 12). 



