COCAINE AS A LOCAL ANESTHETIC. 463 



with equally happy results. In both cases there was entire absence of pain in 

 the eye, or swelling or inflammation of the lids, complications not unfrequently 

 arising from nausea and emesis produced by ether or chloroform. On the day 

 following the first operation, November i8th, wishing to test the drug as to its 

 efficacy as a general anaesthetic as well as a local, Dr. E. Von Quast, of this city, 

 experimented with me upon a Guinea-pig with the following results. At ii A. 

 M. we injected hypodermically one-half minim of a two per cent solution : in 

 three minutes there was a slight dilatation of the pupils, accompanied by a gen- 

 eral muscular exhilaration ; five minutes later we injected another half minim 

 with no increased effect, then we used three minims with some diminution of 

 sensibiliity. In twenty minutes from the first injection I injected five minims 

 more, which occasioned complete loss of sensibility. 



We could now now pass the hypodermic needle through the foot, ears, 

 tongue, or fold of the skin without eliciting the slightest sign of pain or discom- 

 fort, whereas before the last injection the pig would squeal piteously whenever 

 the needle entered his skin. 



During the entire experiment there was apparently no loss of consciousness, 

 nor of power of co-ordination, and up to now the pig is none the worse for the 

 experiment. We may at least gather from this that cocaine may be a boon to 

 animals in vivisection. 



November 20th I used the solution hypodermically upon myself, some 

 patients and several physicians, with the following general results : With from 

 five to ten minims of a two per cent solution, injected in the forearm, there 

 was almost immediately produced a sensation as of ants running over the skin, a 

 slight numbness of the arm, and complete ansesthesia within a space of one inch 

 from the point of injection. There was some slight exhilaration, a freer respi- 

 ration, and slightly flushed cheeks. I have, within the last few days employed 

 this agent in subduing photophobia (dread of light) and find it, so far, beneficial. 

 I employed it also in a case of ezcema of the external ear, where there was intol- 

 erable itching, with good effect. 



It acts like magic in subduring the pain of acute inflammation of the middle 

 ear. It is also useful in reducing the sensibility of the lining membrane of the 

 nose, when necessary to treat the ear through this channel. 



Cocaine has also been employed in the treatment of hemorrhoids, in remov- 

 ing polypi of the nose and ear, small tumors of the skin and in the treatment of 

 diseased mucous surfaces in general with happy results, 



Kansas City, December i, 1884. 



