450 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



cooditions. Therefore it is probable that in whatsoever way- 

 ipecac is exhibited, vomiting proceeds from direct irritation 

 of the stomach or the vagus endings situated therein. Ipecac 

 and emetine do not act so promptly as zinc sulphate or 

 apomorphine (under the skin). The latter are accordingly 

 preferable as evacuants in poisoning. Compared with tartar 

 emetic, ipecac is less persistent and prostrating in its effect. 

 It is probably the mildest emetic at our command. Ipecac 

 and emetine increase secretion and cause hypersemia and 

 purging, sometimes of a bloody character, in their passage 

 through the bowels. Gastro-enteritis may follow the admin- 

 istration of large quantities to dogs. Experimental evidence 

 has shown that ipecac is an hepatic stimulant (cholagogue), 

 increasing the secretion of bile. 



Circulation. — Medicinal doses have no influence on the 

 circulation. Lethal doses paralyze the heart muscle. The 

 act of vomiting, nevertheless, may slightly depress the 

 heart. 



Respiratory Organs. — The lungs are often found intensely 

 hypersemic after death by ipecac poisoning. Not only this ; 

 portions are seen to be collapsed and consolidated. In 

 therapeutic doses the pulmonary mucous membrane is stimu- 

 lated during its elimination and is made more vascular ; the 

 secretion of bronchial mucus is increased and cough is 

 reflexly excited. Ipecac is thus strictly a stimulating expect- 

 orant in so far as its action on the bronchial mucous mem- 

 brane is concerned ; but it is, perhaps unfortunately and 

 misleadingly, classed by some (Brunton) as a depressing 

 expectorant because of the side influence on the circulation. 



Shin. — Ipecac is mildly diarphoretic in addition to 

 and independent of this action common to nauseants in 

 general. 



Toxicology. — The following toxic phenomena are exhib- 

 ited by animals : vomiting, loss of muscular power and 

 paralysis, increased, followed by diminished reflex activity, 

 failure of heart and respiration, and post mortem evidences 

 of congestion and inflammation of the lungs and intestines. 



