304 MATERIA MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



mania, and alcoholism, especially if opium fail. Neither for 

 this purpose nor as a hypnotic can it be said to be in general 

 use. It has also been recommended in such neuroses as 

 epilepsy, chorea, and megrim ; and in some cases relieves the 

 symptoms of these, without effecting a cure. 



Belladonna has been given with success in many forms of 

 cord disease, including spasmodic paralysis. 



Liquor Atropiae Sulphatis is extensively instilled into the 

 eye as a mydriatic or pupil dilator, for ophthalmoscopic exami- 

 nation, and to prevent or break down adhesions in iritis ; also 

 to paralyse accommodation before determining refraction. 

 The routine employment of atropia in all kinds of eye disease 

 is, however, to be deprecated, as it may sometimes precipitate 

 glaucoma. See Physostigma, page 228. 



Atropia occasionally relieves the salivation of mercury, 

 of pregnancy, and of cerebral disease, but is necessarily un- 

 certain, as the pathology of such cases is often obscure. 



Belladonna and atropia are greatly used as anhidrotics to 

 check the sweats of phthisis, and other hectic conditions. The 

 extract is generally used in pill at bedtime, or the Solution of 

 Sulphate of Atropia when the case can be watched. 



Applied in the form of plaster, liniment, or ointment of 

 belladonna, or as a lotion of atropia, this drug is constantly 

 employed as an anti-galactagogue, to " dispel the milk " at any 

 period after delivery. It also arrests mammary abscess. 



Belladonna is a valuable remedy in some cases of disease of 

 the heart and vessels, where the indication is to empty the left 

 ventricle quickly, and relax the vessels, without diminishing 

 the cardiac force. Such cases cannot be further particularised 

 here, but it may be said that belladonna is frequently given, 

 either alone or combined with digitalis, thus securing certain 

 advantages of both drugs, whilst otherwise they may antagonise 

 each other. Belladonna is clinically believed ito relieve cardiac 

 pain and palpitation, and is always to be preferred to opium 

 for this purpose; probably this effect is chiefly an indirect 

 one, referable to frequent emptying of the ventricles, lowering 

 of the vascular tension, and prevention of distension of the 

 heart. The plaster, or the extract mixed with glycerine, 

 applied to the prsecordium, the extract internally, and atropia 

 subcutaneously, are more trustworthy forms for this purpose 

 than the tincture. A combination of morphia and atropia sub- 

 cutaneously is especially valuable in cardiac distress. See 

 Opium : Combinations of Morphia and Atropia, page 197. 



Belladonna is used in diseases of the respiratory organs, 

 both for the prevention and for the relief of spasm of the 

 bronchi (asthma), spasmodic cough of any kind, and especially 



