VEEATRINE 347 



the end of fatal poisoning the pulse becomes weak, thread-like, rapid and 

 irregular from paralysis of the heart muscle, vagus endings and vaso- 

 motor centres. It sometimes happens, however, that the pulse remains 

 weak and slow in this stage because the paralyzing influence of the sub- 

 stance on the heart muscle prevents quickening of the heart even after 

 the removal of inhibitory control. The heart is dilated and irresponsive 

 to galvanism, after death, as are also the voluntary muscles. 



Respiration. — Lethal doses paralyze the respiratory centres and 

 death occurs from respiratory arrest. The breathing may be quickened 

 by small doses of veratrine, owing to transient stimulation of the respira- 

 tory centres and vagus nerve endings in the lungs. 



Toxicology. — The symptoms of poisoning are referable to the action 

 of veratrine on the digestive, nervous and muscular apparatus, heart, 

 and respiratory organs. They include nausea, salivation, clammy sweat- 

 ing, excessive vomiting in dogs, cats and cattle, attempts at vomiting in 

 the horse, abdominal pain, severe purging, muscular twitchings or con- 

 vulsions (excited by external stimuli), loss of muscular power and 

 paralysis. The pulse, at first weak and infrequent, becomes thready, 

 rapid and irregular. The temperature is reduced and the respiration is 

 weak and slow. Death occurs in convulsions or paralysis. One-sixteenth 

 of a grain has caused alarming symptoms in man. The minimum fatal 

 dose is about one grain for dogs. One grain subcutaneously, or five to six 

 grains by the mouth, produce poisonous symptoms in horses. 



Treatment. — External heat; respiratory and cardiac stimulants 

 should be employed subcutaneously. Potassium carbonate and demulcent, 

 drinks are to be given internally. 



Uses External. — Veratrine is of trivial value, since its therapeutic 

 application is narrowly limited. It is occasionally useful in the official 

 ointment, or in greater strength (gr.xl to 3i) for its local anesthetic 

 action applied over rheumatic joints. It may be employed also as a 

 simple rubefacient. An aqueous solution of veratrine sulphate, or an 

 alcoholic dilution of the pure alkaloid, is recommended in shoulder lame- 

 ness, myalgia, and chronic rheumatic affections of the horse, to be in- 

 jected every alternate day, or oftener, into the muscular tissue over the 

 seat of the trouble. The animal should be led about for fifteen or thirty 

 minutes while the pain of the treatment' lasts. The initial dose is gr. 

 % (0.4 Gm.), to be increased to gr. 1% (0.1 Gm.). 



Uses Internal. — Veratrine has been employed as a cardiac sedative 

 and antipyretic in pneumonia, acute rheumatism, and in other sthenic 

 disorders, but it is inferior for these purposes to aconite or veratrum 

 viride, and its other effects are undesirable. The remedy is lauded by 

 foreign authorities as an emetic and cathartic for cattle in impaction of 

 the third stomach, and in conditions where it is desirable to quickly un- 

 load their digestive apparatus. For this purpose P. Cagny advises vera- 

 trine, gr. 21^-3 (.15-.20), subcutaneously, to be followed if necessary by 

 daily doses of grs. 5-7% (0.3-0.6 Gm.) in mucJaginous drinks by the 

 mouth. The same writer finds the drug useful in "broken wind." Vera- 

 trine, given subcutaneously, is considered the best emetic fo^ swine by 



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