CINCHONA AND QUININE 113 



aloes. It can also be obtained in pill form for both preparations, 

 each pill representing one dram of the corresponding tincture, Pilu- 

 Ise Antiperiodica, jST. F. 



Local Action. Quinine is quite a powerful antiseptic. A solu- 

 tion of 1 — 500 destroys many forms of micro-organisms, and a solu- 

 tion of 1 — 250 prevents fermentation and putrefication. 



It is very toxic to the lower forms of animal and vegetable life. 

 In dilute solutions the tendency is to irritate or stimulate protoplasm 

 but this is soon followed by depression, and in motile organisms, as 

 protozoa, ameba, etc., all motion is soon stopped, while strong solu- 

 tions instantly stop the movements and kill them. It has no action 

 when applied to the unbroken skin, but is irritant to raw surfaces, 

 causes considerable pain when given hypodermically and often 

 causes abscess formation. 



Digestive System. In small doses it resembles the vegetable 

 bitters. The secretions from the salivary and gastric glands and the 

 blood supply to the stomach and intestines are increased. There is 

 some belief that it also increases peristalsis and on account of the 

 above actions it has been commonly used as a bitter to increase the 

 appetite and digestion. Large doses are irritant to the digestive 

 tract, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. 



Circulatory System. Small or medicinal doses may increase 

 the force and frequency of the heart's beat but it is not used for 

 this purpose. Large doses depress the heart, while toxic doses para- 

 lyze that organ and arrest it in diastole. Small doses slightly raise 

 blood pressure, and larger ones lower it. 



Blood. Quinine arrests the ameboid movements of the leuco- 

 cytes and prevents their migration in inflammatory conditions. Even 

 when the inflammation has begun, strong solutions of quinine stop 

 the transmigration of the leucocytes and their gathering to form pus 

 at the site of inflammation, and although such large doses cannot be 

 used in practice, some influence is shown, for their number may be 

 strongly reduced. The polymorphonuclear variety is much more re- 

 duced than the others. Eoth found a temporary increase in the 

 lymphocytes which after several hours changed to a decrease. The 

 coagulability of the blood is decreased. Large doses lessen the num- 

 ber of red cells while therapeutic doses increase the number and per 

 cent, of these cells. These diminish in size in febrile conditions 

 but under the influence of quinine and other antipyretics regain their 

 normal condition. It is believed that quinine also impairs the 

 oxygen carrying power of the red blood cells and the ozonizing power 



of the blood. 



Nervous System. Small doses stimulate the cerebrum, while 

 large doses cause cerebral congestion vnth a sense of fullness of the 

 head in man. The reflex function of the spinal cord is reduced by 

 small doses and abolished by toxic ones. The muscles are unin- 



