6 ACONITUM NAPELLUS 



virulent poison. Under the influence of aconite the force of 

 the circulation is reduced, and the frequency of the respirations 

 diminished ; and in fatal doses there is loss of sight, hearing, and 

 feeling, followed by convulsions, syncope, and death. Locally 

 applied to a painful part, it first produces a tingling sensation, 

 which is succeeded by numbness and the cessation of pain. In 

 all cases whether taken internally, or used as an external appli- 

 cation, it appears at first to cause contraction of the pupil of the 

 eye, and subsequently it is said dilatation. So far, however, as 

 the alkaloid aconitia is concerned, Dr. John Harley says, that in 

 poisonous doses, the pupil may be slightly dilated, or in the 

 severer forms of poisoning contracted. 



Aconite has been given internally in acute and chronic rheuma- 

 tism, gout, and neuralgia ; many painful affections of the heart, as 

 angina pectoris, hypertrophy, and nervous palpitations ; to relieve 

 pain in carcinomatous affections; as an antiphlogistic in various 

 inflammatory diseases, as pleurisy, pericarditis, pneumonia, ery- 

 sipelas, and cynanche tonsillaris. Dr. Sidney Ringer, indeed, believes 

 that if given sufficiently early, and in constantly repeated minute 

 doses, it can cut short and limit the intensity of most acute 

 inflammations. As a diuretic it is often given with benefit in 

 dropsies. Notwithstanding the undoubted beneficial effects of 

 aconite, it is but little employed internally, except by a few 

 practitioners, a result probably due in a great measure to the 

 dangerous symptoms of depression which sometimes ensue from 

 its use ; hence its action should in all cases be carefully watched ; 

 moreover, its effects are said to be only very temporary. 

 Externally applied in the form of the official liniment, or of 

 the liniment combined with chloroform, it is often of great value 

 in different forms of neuralgia, and in chronic rheumatism; but 

 care must be taken not to apply it to abraded surfaces, lest its 

 too rapid absorption under such circumstances should produce 

 poisonous symptoms. 



The effects of aconitia are similar to those of aconite root and 

 aconite leaves, although of course much more powerful. It is 

 rarely, however, administered internally, on account of its power- 



