GELSEMIUM 311 



muscles, motor (except tHose of the face) and sensory nerves are un- 

 affected by gelsemium. 



Respiration. — Gelsemium, in toxic doses, progressively weakens and 

 paralyzes the medullary and spinal respiratory centres, and death occurs 

 from asphyxia. 



Eye. — In poisoning, in animals, there is dilatation of the pupil pro- 

 duced in the latest stages of the toxic period. In man, there is in addition 

 to this, paralysis and drooping of thfe eyelids (ptosis), and paralysis of 

 the recti muscles with strabismus. These symptoms have been attrib- 

 uted with apparent reason to paralysis of the motor cells in the floor of 

 the fourth ventricle and aqueduct of Sylvius, since they are a prolonga- 

 tion of the 'spinal motor tract. As the pupil is dilated, however, by the 

 application of much smaller doses than are required by the mouth, it 

 seems probable that mydriasis results from local paralysis of the oculo- 

 motor nerve endings. 



Toxicology. — Poisoning in animals is exhibited by muscular weak- 

 ness, especially in the fore legs, staggering gait and falling. These 

 symptoms are followed by convulsive movements of the muscles of the 

 head, fore legs, and sometimes of the hind legs. The respiration is slow 

 and difficult, the pulse feeble; temperature is reduced, and there is 

 sweating. Consciousness is preserved until the occurrence of asphyxia. 

 Death takes place from respiratory failure, with almost simultaneous 

 cardiac arrest. Morphine subcutaneously has proved a successful anti- 

 dote. Respiratory and heart stimulants should be employed in poisoning 

 by gelsemium, such as strychnine, atropine, alcohol, and digitalis, together 

 with artificial respiration, after evacuation of the stomach. 



Uses. — Gelsemium possesses little value in veterinary medicine. 

 There is no therapeutic indication for gelsemium which cannot be filled 

 to better advantage by some other remedy. Thus, gelsemium has been 

 employed as a cardiac depressant and antipyretic in acute diseases (pneu- 

 monia and pleurisy), but its other actions are disadvantageous and it is 

 inferior to aconite, veratrum viride, or the modern antipyretics. In spas- 

 modic diseases, irritable cough, vesical irritation, tetanus, chorea, etc., 

 it is less satisfactory as a motor depressant than opium, belladonna, 

 chloral, and bromides. Zuill, however, reports very successful results in 

 horses from gelsemine (.08 Gm.) in tetanus. The dose should be given 

 under the skin every half hour till muscular relaxation occurs. Lobeline 

 is, however, in favor for this purpose. The drug has been used consider- 

 ably to relieve rheumatic and neuralgic pains, but these succumb more 

 readily to opium, coal tar products, etc. As a mydriatic, gelsemine is 

 not to be compared with atropine for general purposes, but its action is 

 more transient. A solution (gr.8-§i) is instilled (in man) in drop doses 

 every fifteen minutes for one hour, and then every thirty minutes for two 

 hours, to secure wide dilatation of the pupil; or discs, containing gr. 

 1/300 of gelsemine (with gelatine) are used for application to the eye. 



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