178 INORGANIC AGENTS 



first vomitus following its intravenous injection. It also expels the con- 

 tents of a bladder artificially replacing the normal stomach. These 

 results go to show that tartar emetic acts both as a specific emetic upon 

 the vomiting centre, and locally as a specific irritant and an emetic upon 

 the mucous membrane of the stomach. Tartar emetic is eliminated in 

 great part by the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal. 



Circulation. — The principal action of antimony is exerted upon the 

 heart and vessels. The heart muscle is weakened and vascular tension 

 markedly lowered by large doses of tartar emetic. This action depends 

 upon the influence of antimony on the cardiac muscle itself, and possibly 

 upon the vagus nerve-endings in the heart. Vascular tension is lowered 

 through depression of the heart and of the peripheral vasomotor nerves 

 or muscle of the vessel walls. Whether the vasomotor centre is also de- 

 pressed is uncertain. The pulse is reduced in force and frequency by 

 large doses of tartar emetic. Following lethal amounts, the heart becomes 

 flabby and relaxed, and death occurs in diastolic arrest. The preceding 

 remarks apply only to the action of tartar emetic upon carnivora. 



Antimony was formerly a very popular drug when general depressant 

 and depletant treatment was in vogue, because of its powerfully depress- 

 ing action upon the circulation. 



Respiratory Organs. — Small doses of antimony increase secretion of 

 bronchial mucus. Toxic amounts weaken the respiratory movement by 

 lowering the functional activity of the respiratory and vagus centres, 

 and cause a copious outpouring of serous and mucous secretion into the 

 bronchial tubes, which has the effect of drowning an animal in its own 

 secretions. This action is only seen in horses after intravenous injection 

 of toxic quantities of tartar emetic. The respiration is slow and labored 

 in poisoning. 



Nervous System. — Large doses of antimony depress the functional 

 activity of the brain and sensory tract of the spinal cord. Larger doses 

 produce loss of reflex action and anesthesia, owing to the influence of 

 antimony upon the sensory side of the cord; while in toxic amounts, anti- 

 mony is a general paralyzant to all the spinal centres and to the motor 

 nerves. 



Muscles. — In carnivora and man, antimony lessens muscular strength 

 and relaxes spasm through its depressing action upon the motor nerves 

 and muscular tissue. 



Elimination. — Antimony is mainly eliminated by the mucous mem- 

 brane of the stomach and bowels, but also by the kidneys, bronchial 

 mucous membrane, and other channels. 



Toxicology. — The symptoms are those described under "Action on 

 the Stomach and Bowels." The fecal discharges in man are copious and 

 of the rice water appearance characteristic of Asiatic cholera. If vomit- 

 ing is not free, zinc sulphate should be given, or the stomach washed out. 

 Tannic acid should be administered as a chemical antidote, together with 

 the use of external heat, alcohol, digitalone, strychnine and morphine 

 subcutaneously, and demulcents by the mouth. 



Uses External. — Tartar emetic is used in ointment, in the strength 

 of 1-4, over chronically enlarged and rheumatic joints of cattle. It is 



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