VERATRINE 445 



PREPARATION. 



Oleatum Veratrince. Oleate of Veratrine. (U. S. P.) 

 Veratrine, 4 ; olive oil, 6 ; benzoinated lard, 90. (U. S. P.) 



Action Internal. — Veratrine is a powerful irritant. If 

 inhaled in minutest quantity it causes sneezing and a mucous, 

 or bloody discharge. When injected under the skin, vera- 

 trine occasions suffering and restlessness. Rubbed into the 

 skin or applied to a mucous membrane or a raw surface, it 

 produces redness and pain followed by local ansesthesia. 



Action Internal — Here again veratrine is an intense irri- 

 tant. After ingestion of large doses, there are salivation, 

 violent vomiting, in animals capable of the act ; often severe 

 purging, pain, collapse, fall of temperature and other symp- 

 toms common to gastro-enteritis. 



Nervous System and Muscles. — Veratrine is a direct 

 poison to the motor and sensory nerves and muscles, first 

 exalting and then depressing and paralyzing their functional 

 activity. The cerebrum, and probably the spinal cord, escape 

 its influence. Spasms and convulsions occur in veratrine 

 poisoning, in the stage of motor excitement, while paralysis 

 follows depression of the nerves and muscles. The action of 

 the substance begins and ends sooner in the nerves than the 

 muscles. The effect of veratrine on voluntary muscle is 

 peculiar. A tracing of a muscle during contraction shows 

 that the latent period, and that of ascent, is unaltered ; but 

 the amount of contraction is much augmented, as shown by 

 the increased height of the curve ; and the time of relaxation 

 is greatly prolonged. 



Circulation. — Veratrine affects the heart muscle much 

 as it does the striped muscle, and the vagus nerve similarly 

 to the spinal nerves. The cardiac muscle and vagus nerve 

 (central and peripheral), and probably the vasomotor 

 centres, are primarily stimulated and secondarily depressed 

 and paralyzed. Three conditions have been noted in rela- 

 tion to the pulse, corresponding to different stages in the 

 action of veratrine. 1. A small dose may induce a temporary 



