OEGANIC POISONS AND DEUGS 121 



present purposes to do more than signalise its possibility 

 and main features. Atropine, which stops secretion and 

 paralyses involuntary muscle, is clearly the proper physio- 

 logical antagonist, and is the remedy to be used in the 

 contingency of an overdose of pilocarpine or eserine. 



Chemical Diag-nosis.— An alkaloid suspected to be 

 pilocarpine may be tested for as follows : A small quantity 

 of the chloride is shaken in a test-tube with a crystal of 

 potassium bichromate, 1 to 2 c.c. of chloroform, and 1 c.c. 

 of 3 per cent, hydrogen peroxide. After a few minutes 

 the chloroform layer becomes blue- violet to indigo, accord- 

 ing to the quantity of pilocarpine (Helch) . 



IPECACUANHA AND EMETINE. 



OecurFence. — Ipecacuanha is the dried root of the, 

 Cephaelis ipecacuanha, indigenous to South America, and 

 owing its activity to the alkaloids emetine, which is present 

 in the dry root in the proportion of 1 to 2 per cent., and in 

 smaller proportions cephaeline and psychotrine. In pharmacy 

 emetine is rarely used, the extract, syrup, and wine of 

 ipecacuanha, being the usual forms. 



Effects. — There is very little chance of poisoning being 

 caused in the ordinary applications of this drug, large 

 doses of which are needed to give toxic symptoms. Thus, 

 3 ounces are quoted by Winslow as having killed a horse, 

 whilst Pinlay Dun gives 3^ ounces. As regards pure 

 emetine Winslow gives 2 grains as fatal to a dog, and 

 Finlay Dun gives for the dog J to 8 grains, and for the cat 

 ^ grain. The latter authority describes 2 grains swallowed 

 by a dog as having caused violent vomiting, increased 

 mucous secretion from the respiratory and alimentary 

 membranes, inflammation of the stomach and intestines, 

 stupor and death in twenty-four hours (Magendie). The 

 emetic effects of these drugs are probably due to local 

 gastric action, for when given under the skin, emetine is 

 excreted into the stomach, and may be found in the first 

 vomits (Winslow). 



