600 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Ergotinum. Ergotin. (B. P.) 

 Dose— H. & C, gr.xx..3 i. (1.3-4.); D., gr.ii.-x. (.1C-.6). 



Jnjectio Ergotini Hypodermica. (B. P.) 

 Dose.— H;., 33^-lK (3.-6.); D., TTiiii.-x. (.2-.6). 



Ergot deteriorates rapidly with age. Both it and its 

 preparations should be fresh and the drug should be dis- 

 carded when over a year old. 



Action InternaL — Digestive Organs. — Ergot stimulates 

 the involuntary muscle of the stomach and intestines, but 

 rarely suflBciently to cause any outward signs. The blood 

 vessels in the walls of the digestive tract are contracted 

 directly by the drug, and also because of the constriction of 

 the muscular walls themselves. 



Circulation. — Ergot is absorbed into the blood but does 

 not influence that fluid. The essential action consists in 

 constriction of the arterioles and veins throughout the body, 

 with rise of blood pressure. This is due to stimulation of 

 the spinal vasomotor centres. The pulse rate is also some- 

 what reduced, owing, probably, to stimulation of the peri- 

 pheral cardiac vagi. When ergot is thrown directly into a 

 vein, vascular tension is much lowered. This phenomenon 

 follows depression of the heart muscle and does not occur 

 after ordinary therapeutic administration of ergot by the 

 mouth or under the skin. Toxic doses paralyze both the 

 vasomotor centres and heart muscle. 



Nervous System. — The nervous system is not afi'ected by 

 medicinal doses of ergot, nor by large single doses of the 

 drug. Certain changes occur in poisoning, but these are not 

 understood. 



Uterus. — Ergot causes contraction of the pregnant womb. 

 It does not invariably induce abortion, but does always act 

 on the parturient organ. Small doses increase the duration 

 and force of the uterine contractions, but full medicinal 

 doses produce a tonic, continuous spasm of the womb with- 

 out the usual intermissions. Ergot possesses little influence 

 on the normal unimpregnated uterus. The action on the 



