HYDRASTININE 135 



Toxicology. The symptoms are about the same as those in 

 strychnine poisoning and the treatment the same as for strychnine. 



Therapeutics. 



1. Bitter stomachic in anorexia, convalescence or wherever a bit- 

 ter is desired. 



2. Excitomotor. It is inferior to strychnine in every respect for 

 action on the cord. 



3. Catarrhal conditions. There seems to be some good inflenee 

 in inflammations of the mucosa, especially that of the genito-urinary 

 tract, although the manner of action is not knovm. The glycerite, 

 fluid or hydrastine in solution are used for this purpose. 



HYDRASTININAE HYDROOHLORIDUM 

 HYDRASTININE CHLORIDE 



Dose. See above. 



It is freely soluble in water and alcohol. Hydrastinine has the- 

 same action on the centers as hydrastine but in addition has a local 

 constricting action on the arteries. Furthermore, it is depressant 

 to the heart and other muscles. It produces a rise of blood pres- 

 sure by stimulating the vasomotor center. It is used for its action 

 upon the uterus, as it stops uterine hemorrhage by cutting down the 

 blood supply through constriction of the arterioles, and to some 

 slight extent by stimulating the uterus itself. A 10 per cent, solu- 

 tion has been used in treating hemorrhage from the nose, mouth, etc. 



Cotarnin Chloride (Stypticin) is not official. Chemically it is 

 oxymethyl hydrastine. 



Dose for dog, % grain. (0.03.) 



This is prepared from narcotine, and strongly resembles hydras- 

 tinine, but with a hydrastine tendency to depress the heart. 



B. DEPRESSANTS TO CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM 

 CEREBRAL DEPRESSANTS 



Cerebral depressants may be classified as hypnotics, general anes- 

 thetics, general analgesics, and anticonvulsants. Hypnotics, somni- 

 facients or soporifics are agents which produce sleep. If they de- 

 press the psychic areas aside from their hypnotic effect they are 

 termed narcotics. The following factors favor sleep : 



1. Eemoval of external stimuli. 



2. Fatigue of the brain cells, making them less responsive to ex- 

 ternal influences. 



3. Accumulation of waste products in the blood which are given, 

 off by the cells while producing energy. 



