MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 1 59 



The vasomotor ganglia all over the body are stimulated, but 

 afterwards paralyzed by over-stimulation, the heart weakens, the 

 vessels relax and the blood pressure is greatly lowered. Com- 

 plete motor paralysis follows, then delirium, stupor, and finally 

 death, usually by asphyxia. 



The pupils are dilated by the local or systemic use of the 

 drug. It paralyzes accommodation and lessens intraocular pres- 

 sure, the least amount of atropine affecting the pupil is stated 

 by Donders to be the 1-700,000 of a grain. 



The brain is congested by belladonna, a busy delirium being 

 produced, and hallucinations' with mental disorder, due to a se- 

 lective action on the cells of the gray matter. In horses it greatly 

 stimulates the motor apparatus, which afterwards becomes greatly 

 exhausted 



The spinal cord is stimulated from the second cervical ver- 

 tebrae to the tenth dorsal, resulting in paralysis of the motor 

 nerves, both central and peripheral, power being lost in hind ex- 

 tremities first. 



Sensation is slightly impaired, but the muscular irritability 

 is not. 



Respiration is increased and the temperature is raised by the 

 increased circulation ; metamorphosis is greatly promoted. 



A diffused eruption of a scarlet color, greatly resembling 

 scarlet fever is occasionally produced by belladonna on the skin 

 and fauces, with dysphagia (inability to swallow) and sore throat; 

 this is sometimes followed by desquamation, due to capillary 

 congestion caused by the greatly increased circulation. 



Belladonna and Atropine are rapidly diffused and quickly 

 eliminated, particularly by the kidneys. By its paralyzing effect 

 on the terminal nerve filaments, it relaxes the bronchial tubes 

 and checks the secretion of the bronchial mucous membrane ; it 

 checks secretion of saliva and milk in the same way and causes 

 dryness of the skin. 



Toxicology. — Dryness of the mouth, increased frequency of 

 the pulse and respiration, elevated temperature, dilated pupils, 

 partial blindness, nervousness, delirium, twitching of the muscles 

 and frequent micturition. 



In fatal poisoning there follows upon these symptoms ; fall 

 of temperature, retention of the urine, staggering gait, partial an- 



