206 STIMULANTS TO PERIPHERAL NERVES 



tines with undigested food on account of the liability to rupture the 

 walls by the violent peristalsis. It is used by some, however, in 

 these eases with reported good results. 



2. In spasmodic colic, because it increases the convulsive con- 

 tractions of the bowels, consequently the pain is increased. There 

 may be some danger of causing twist of the bowels, according to some 

 authorities. 



3. In pregnant animals there is danger of producing abortion. 



4. In tympanies and chronic indigestion in cattle, eserine is not 

 recommended by some, though it is usually considered a safe and 

 efficient remedy in acute tympany. 



PILOCARPUS 



Synonym. Jaborandi 



Parts Used. The leaflets of Pilocarpus Jaborandi or of Pilo- 

 carpus microphyllus yielding when assayed not less than 0.6 per cent, 

 of alkaloids of pilocarpus. It is a shrub of Brazil. 



Constituents. The leaves contain the alkaloids, pilocarpine, iso- 

 pilocarpine, pilocarpidine, with similar action, and jaborine, which 

 has an atropine-like action but is in too minute a quantity to have any 

 eilect. The first is the only one of importance. 



Preparations and Doses. 



Fluidextractum Pilocarpi. H. 31] — iv; 8 — 16. D. TTL v — 



_ oj ; 0.3—4. 

 Pilocarpince Hydrochloridum, soluble in water and alcohol. 



H. grs. j— v; 0.65— 0;3. D. grs. Vio— Va ; 0.006—0.02. 

 Pilocarpince Nitras, soluble in water, less so in alcohol. 



Doses.— Same as of the hydrochloride. 



Action. Pilocarpine antagonizes the action of atropine upon the 

 ends of the secretory nerves, ends of nerves in plain muscle, ends of 

 vagi and end of the third muscle in the internal eye. It does not 

 affect the sensory nerve endings or the striated muscles or their nerve 

 endings. 



Digestive System. There is stimulation of all those structures 

 depressed by atropine. Thus there is an increase in the secretions of 

 saliva, gastric juice and probably intestinal juices, due to stimulation 

 of the secretory nerve endings in the glands involved. Smooth muscle 

 is not so easily affected except after large doses, in which case peri- 

 stalsis is increased by stimulation of the nerve endings in the smooth 

 muscles of the digestive tract. In large doses it serves as a rapid- 

 acting cathartic. 



Nervous System. There is no effect in moderate doses except 

 stimulation of the peripheral nerve endings. Large doses act simi- 

 larly to eserine. 



Muscles. Pilocarpine contracts most of the plain muscles of the 



