CONIUM 315 



Toxicology. — The minimum fatal dose of conium is uncertain^ owing 

 to the proneness of the alkaloid to decomposition, and to the volatility 

 and the variable amount contained in the crude drug. A few drops of 

 the alkaloid will kill small cats and dogs. Herbivora, as goats, sheep 

 and horses, are less susceptible than carnivora. 



The domestic animals occasionally become accidentally poisoned by 

 eating hemlock at pasture. The symptoms exhibited are dulness, loss of 

 muscular power (at first in the hind legs), stumbling and falling, or lying 

 down. We observe, also, nausea, salivation (sometimes amaurosis), 

 dilatation of the pupil and ptosis, sweating, and often muscular tremors 

 and clonic convulsions. The pulse becomes slow and feeble, the breathing 

 faint, the surface cold and clammy, and the animal often lies as still as 

 though dead, so complete is the paralysis. Death finally occurs from 

 asphyxia, frequently associated with coma. The respiration ceases before 

 the heart-beat. The urine of poisoned animals may be used as a physio- 

 logical test in frogs, to decide doubtful cases. The treatment of poisoning 

 consists in evacuation of the stomach and the use of tannic acid, artificial 

 respiration, external heat, and respiratory and cardiac stimulants, as 

 strychnine, atropine, caffeine and alcohol. The post-mortem appearances 

 are those of asphyxia, with sometimes evidences of gastro-intestinal irri- 

 tation. 



Uses Internal. — Conium is rarely used in veterinary medicine on 

 account of the uncertainty of its preparations and natural therapeutic 

 limitations. 



Lobelia. Lobelia. (U. S. P.) 



The dried leaves and flowering tops of Lobelia inflata Linn6 (Fam. Lobe- 

 liaceae) . 



Synonym. — Indian or wild tobacco, E.; lobSlie enflge, Fr.; lobelienkraut, G. 



Habitat. — Eastern and central North America. 



Description. — Stems cylindrical, coarsely and irregularly furrowed, yellowish- 

 green, occasionally purplish and with numerous spreading hairs; leaves alternate, 

 sessile or narrowing into a short petiole, usually more or less broken ; when entire, 

 laminae ovate or oblong, from 2 to 9 cm. in length; pale green and with scattered, 

 bristly hairs ; flowers blue in long, loose racemes with short pedicels ; seeds brown- 

 ish, oblong and coarsely reticulate; odor slight, taste strongly acrid. The powder 

 is dark green, odor irritating. 



Constituents. — 1. An alkaloid, Lobeline (CisHjjOa?) in broad, colorless, odor- 

 less, tasteless, crystals. 2. Lobelic acid. 3. Lobelacrin. 4. Inflatin. 5. Lobeli- 

 anin, a volatile oil. 6. A gum. 7. A resin. 



PHEPARATIOKS. 



Fluidextractum Lobeliw. Fluidextract of Lobelia. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with acetic acid and diluted alcohol, 

 and evaporation so that 1 mil=l Gm. of the crude drug. 

 Z)o»e.— 3ii-viii, (8-80); D., TTLi-v, (.06-.3). 



TincturOB Lobelice. Tincture of Lobelia. (U. S. P.) 

 Lobelia powder, 100; alcohol to make 1000. Made by maceration and perco- 

 lation. 



Dose. — H., gi-ii, (80-60) ; D., Emetic, 3i-iv, (4-lS) ; D., Expectorant and seda- 

 tive, ntx-xxx, (0.6-2). 



Dose. — Lobeline sulphate (subcutaneously). — H. & C, gr. A-%; D., gr. 

 1/100-1/10. 



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