174 Botanic Drugs 



the respiratory center is paralyzed. The toxic dose 

 of gelsemiuin varies within rather wide range, 

 poisonous results sometimes occurring quite un- 

 expectedly. I have very largely used the drug in 

 my practice and have had occasion to observe 

 unexpected toxic effects. 



Physicians should be cautioned against the use of 

 large doses except in sthenic cases kept under obser- 

 vation. In my experience, these toxic effects may 

 develop slowly, often hours after administration. 

 Warning symptoms are ptosis, double vision, dilated 

 pupils, weakness and depression. In threatening 

 cases give digitalis and atropine, according to Hill; 

 but some writers contend that morphine serves 

 better than atropine. I secured good results from 

 the copious use of strong boiled tea, the tannin 

 therein being effective. One fluidrachm of the fl. 

 may readily cause death. I have observed danger- 

 ous symptoms from thirty minims, taken in mistake 

 for the tincture. 



PHARMACOLOGY. Gelsemine, the minor alkaloid, 

 has no well-defined action in the mammal. Gelsem- 

 inine has an action almost identical with that of 

 coniine, differing in the paralytic effect on the 

 centers being greater with gelseminine than with 

 coniine, and the effect on the motor terminations 

 being less with gelseminine than with coniine. The 

 sphincters of the pupil and the ciliary muscle are 

 paralyzed if the drug is applied to the conjunctiva, 

 but only in doses of marked toxicity is this effect 

 produced through the general circulation. See 

 "Conium." 



The circulation is not influenced in any way, 

 suggesting a therapeutic action similar to that of 



