COCAINE 319 



lated and the breathing is made deeper and quicker. Depression and 

 paralysis of the respiratory centre follows ; cyanosis supervenes, and the 

 respiration is shallow and irregular. Death occurs from asphyxia. 



Temperature. — The body heat is elevated, sometimes to an excessive 

 degree, by poisonous doses of cocaine. Medicinal doses do not affect 

 the temperature. The rise of temperature is said to follow stimulation 

 of the thermogenetic center in the caudate nucleus. 



Kidneys. — The greater part of the cocaine absorbed is oxidized 

 within the body. The smaller part is eliminated by the kidneys. Experi- 

 mental evidence concerning the influence of the alkaloid upon the secre- 

 tion and composition of the urine is conflicting and indefinite. The 

 amount of secretion probably depends upon the state of vascular tension 

 and calibre of the vessels. 



The Eye. — Cocaine is used very largely in the eye. It produces 

 local anesthesia, constriction of the blood vessels and dilatation of the 

 pupil with lowering of intraocular tension. The action on the pupil seems 

 to follow stimulation of the terminations of the cervical sympathetic in 

 the radial muscle of the iris. 



Toxicology. — Moderate doses produce in dogs mental exhilaration 

 and joyousness, so that they bark and jump about with delight. Poison- 

 ing with large doses (gr. ^ of cocaine to 2 lbs. of live weight) may be 

 divided into three stages. In the first stage, there is restlessness, anxiety 

 and terror, with rhythmical movements. Noises frighten the animal and 

 he fails to recognize his master. The second stage is characterized by a 

 joyous condition, in which dogs bark, dance about and lick people's hands. 

 In the third stage, weakness and nervous phenomena appear, — as muscu- 

 lar twitching, rhythmical movements a pendulum-like motion of the head, 

 convulsions and stupor. There is dyspnea, feeble pulse and failing res- 

 piration. In an experiment upon a Newfoundland dog, weighing about 

 100 lbs., conducted by the writer, there were no symptoms produced by 3 

 grains of cocaine under the skin, except dilation of the pupils and a con- 

 stant lapping with the tongue. In man, an amount of cocaine exceeding 

 gr. % should not be employed under the skin, or upon mucous membranes, 

 and death has occurred in susceptible patients from even smaller doses. 

 The most powerful action follows the use of cocaine in very vascular 

 parts, as about the face. One-half a grain of cocaine given subcutane- 

 ously to a girl of eleven years old, was followed by a fatal result in 40 

 seconds, and the writer has seen violent convulsions produced by the 

 instillation of a few drops of a 2 per cent, solution into the eye of a man. 

 On the other hand, spontaneous recovery has obtained in the human sub- 

 ject aftei* the ingestion of 22 grs. of the alkaloid. In the horse, a toxic 

 dose of cocaine (3i) causes restlessness and excitement, muscular twitch- 

 ing and trembling, rhythmical movements of head (as nodding and 

 weaving), dilated pupils and salivation, culminating within an hour in a 

 state of acute mania and intense excitement. These symptoms are fol- 

 lowed by gradual recovery after the lapse of a few hours. Three grains 

 of "cocaine given under the skin, will sometimes induce nervous excitement 

 in susceptible horses. The treatment of dangerous forms of cocaine poi- 



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