ACONITE 343 



anxious, the eyeballs are retracted or protruded, and the pupils more 

 commonly dilated. Death takes place usually from asphyxia, occasion- 

 ally from syncope. The post-mortem appearances are simply those re- 

 sulting from asphyxia. 



Treatment. — Evacuate the stomach by siphon. Emetics are contra- 

 indicated as disturbing the heart. Cardiac and respiratory stimulants 

 are to be given subcutaneously, as alcohol, ammonia, ether, digitalone, 

 atropine and strychnine, in addition to inhalation of amyl nitrite. The 

 patient must be kept quiet, and artificial respiration done if practicable 

 and necessary. Experimental evidence seems to prove atropine the most 

 valuable single antidote to aconite in stimulating the respiratory and 

 vasomotor centres. 



Uses External. — Aconite may be applied in liniment (fluid extract of 

 aconite, 40; chloroform liniment, 60) to relieve pain of an inflammatory, 

 neuralgic, or rheumatic character; or as aconitine in ointment (2-4! per 

 cent.) for the same purposes. Aconitine is very expensive, however. 

 Care must be exercised to prevent undue absorption and poisoning, and 

 danger of animal licking it. 



Uses Internal. — Aconite is useful in fever because: 



1. It diminishes the frequency of the heart and reduces blood 

 pressure. 



2. It lowers temperature and produces sweating and diuresis. 



3. It relieves pain and restlessness to some extent. 



Aconite is particularly applicable, conjoined with sweet spirit of 

 nitre, in the first stages of febrile diseases; in those attacking the young; 

 and in those of self-limited and short duration, viz., coryza, laryngitis, 

 pharyngitis, pleuritis, bronchitis and pneumonia uncomplicated with in- 

 fluenza. It is also indicated in the initial period of acute muscular rheu- 

 matism, enteritis and peritonitis (combined with opium), and in mammitis, 

 lymphangitis, and laminitis. 



Fever in Horses. 



Fluidextracti aconiti oiss. 



Spiritus setheris nitrosi ad giv- 



M. 



S. Tablespoonful in cup of water hourly. 



Spasmodic and painful disorders, as colic, are relieved more suc- 

 cessfully by powerful anodynes and antispasmodics (opium and bella- 

 donna) . 



In chronic or long continued fevers, the use of aconite should not be 

 persisted in, but it should be given at the very outset of fevers and re- 

 peated frequently in small doses. lUxv. for the horse, and TTtii. for 

 the dog, every fifteen minutes for two hours, and afterwards TTLxxx. for 

 the horse and TTLiii. for the dog, hourly, being governed, however, bv the 

 condition of the pulse and temperature and the physiological effects. 

 Aconite is a useful sedative in some cardiac disturbances, it quiets ner- 

 vous palpitation, and that form resulting from hypertrophy of the heart. 



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