96 



CIRCULATORY DEPRESSANTS 



VERATRINE U. S. P. 



As mentioned previously, veratrine is a mixture of alkaloids, but 

 is especially rich in cevadine to whick its action is due. 

 Doses. 



Horses and Cattle, gr. ss— ij ; 0.03—0.13. Pigs. gr. %— 

 1/2; 0.0015—0.03. Dogs. gr. Vsz—Yie; g. 0.002— 

 0.004. 



*Oleatum Yeratri. 2 per cent., for external use only. 



*Unguentum Yeratri. 4 per cent., for external use only. 



Action. Veratrine is very irritant to the skin, mucous mem- 

 branes and rav7 surfaces, and in large doses to the digestive tract. 

 On account of its irritant action it causes sneezing and coughing 

 when brought into contact with the respiratory mucous membranes. 

 Moderate therapeutic doses given hypodermically often cause dis- 

 agreeable symptoms, such as uneasiness, perspiration, colicky pains, 

 increased peristalsis, passage of urine and feces, muscular trembling 

 and weakness. These symptoms should be kept in mind because 

 they may be caused by therapeutic doses. 



Fig. 12. — Tracings of muscular contractions from gastrocnemius of the frog. 

 a, normal; 6, three successive contractions taken at one minute intervals, 

 five minutes after the injection of veratrine. 



(Reproduced, by permission, from Cushny, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. PubUshed 



by Lea and Febiger.) 



Muscles. Veratrine has a specific action upon all striated 

 muscle. Fatigued muscles are said to regain their activity more 

 quickly under the influence of veratrine and the heart to beat four 

 times as strongly (Frohner). Its action upon striated muscle is 

 peculiar in that a muscle under the influence of veratrine will respond 

 to stimuli and contract as rapidly as normal muscle but the period 

 of relaxation is much prolonged. 



* Unofficial. 



