428 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



PREPARATIONS. 



Fluidextractum Conii. Fluidextract of Conium. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with acetic acid and diluted 



alcohol, and evaporation so that 1 cc. = 1 gm. of the crude drug. 



Standarized to contain 0.45 gm. of coniine in each 100 co. of the fluids 



extract. 



Dose.— H. & C, 3i.-ii. (4.-8.); Sh. & Sw., mx.-xx. (.6-1.3); D., 



mii.-v. (.12-.3). 



SuccuR Conii (B. P.).— D. & C, 3 i.-ii. 

 Tine. Conii (B. P.).— D. & C, 3 ss.-i. 

 Ung. Conii (B. P.). 



ACTION, OP CONIUM AND CONINE. 



External. — Conine is an irritant applied to mucous 

 membranes. Conium is thought to act as a local sedative 

 upon raw surfaces. Physiological experiments show that 

 the sensory nerves are but slightly depressed. 



Internal. — Circulation. — Conium has little effect upon 

 the digestive apparatus, except in toxic doses, when it may 

 cause irritation, vomiting and diarrhoea. It is absorbed and 

 produces primary acceleration of the pulse, probably owing 

 to paralysis of the ganglia of the pneumogastric, followed 

 by a fall in the pulse rate. The action on the circulation is 

 insignificant compared tO that on the nerves. 



Nervous System and Muscles. — The predominant action 

 of conium consists in paralyzing the voluntary and in- 

 voluntary muscles, with loss of motion but without loss 

 of consciousness or sensation. That this effect is due 

 to paralysis of the motor nerves has been proved by 

 poisoning frogs with conium after ligature of the aorta, so 

 that the blood supply to the hind legs was cut off. Failure 

 of motion and reaction to galvanism occurs in the fore legs, 

 but irritation of the paralyzed fore legs causes reflex con- 

 traction of the posterior extremities. This experiment shows 

 that the motor nerves are paralyzed in the fore legs, but 

 that the sensory nerves and spinal cord retain their func- 

 tional activity. The afferent nerves are somewhat depressed 

 by enormous doses. The brain and spinal cord are slightly 



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