MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 213' 



Summary. — Aconite is a powerful sensory, cardiac (small 

 doses lessen the force and frequency of the heart beats ; large, 

 doses lessen the' force and increase the frequency ;) respiratory 

 and spinal depressant, also diaphoretic, diuretic and powerful an- 

 tipyretic. It chiefly affects the peripheral ends of the sensory 

 nerves ; they being affected first and from the periphery inwards, 

 while the motor nerves are affected from the centers outwards. 



It relaxes the inhibitory apparatus of the heart and paralyzes 

 the cardiac muscle and its contained ganglia, the respiratory 

 centers, and the spinal cord in all of its functions (sensory, reflex 

 and motor), but does not affect the brain. 



It lowers pyrexia, by causing vascular dilatation, thus result- 

 ing in heat loss by radiation ; and by retarded circulation, thus 

 lessening heat production. 



Aconite is rapidly diffused and slowly excreted, the effects 

 of a full medicinal dose continuing for 3 or 4 hours. 



Applied Externally. — It paralyzes the sensory nerves of the 

 part, is therefore an anodyne and local anaesthetic. 



MEDICINAL USES OF ACONITE. 



Indications for its Use. — It antagonizes the fever process, 

 when properly used is a most valuable drug ; it is indicated in all 

 affections, characterized by high resisting pulse, dry, hot skin, 

 and elevated body temperature ; is useful in Acute Throat Affec- 

 tions as laryngitis, pharyngitis and parotiditis, in small doses 

 often repeated. Indicated in Acute Inflammation of the Res- 

 piratory Organs. For pleurisy and peritonitis, at the outset 

 give aconite with opium (q. v.). 



Indicated in simple fevers or in puerperal fever, Inflamma- 

 tion of the Brain; in Acute or Inflammatory Rheumatism, in 

 Acute Local Inflammation, as arthritis or inflammation resulting 

 from bruises, sprains, etc. 



In Lymphangitis, in Laminitis, in Enteritis; if called early 

 in case of enteritis, give 20 ms. of aconite and repeat with 10 or 

 15 minims every hour and between times give fluid extract bella- 

 donna 15 or 20 minims every hour, and externally woolen blank- 

 ets wrung out of hot water and wrapped around the body. 



In Mammitis. — Is also useful in large doses, combined with 

 Phytolacca; in spasmodic colic brought on by drinking cold 



