ACONITE 459 



Description. — From 10 to 20 Mm. thick at the crown ; 

 conically contracted below ; from 50 to 75 Mm. long, with 

 scars or fragments of radicles ; dark brown externally, 

 whitish internally, with a rather thick bark; the central 

 axis about seven-rayed ; without odor ; taste at first sweetish, 

 soon becoming acrid and producing a sensation of tingling 

 and niimbness which lasts for seme time. 



Constituents. — The alkaloid representing the action of 

 the drug is aconitine (Cj^H^NOn), which is precipitated by 

 ammonia from an aqueous solution of an alcoholic extract 

 of the root of various species. It is a colorless, crystalline, 

 or amorphous, gray powder, almost insoluble in water, and 

 soluble in 22 parts of alcohol, in 44 parts of ether, and 1 

 part of chloroform. Its salts are soluble in water. 



Commercial preparations vary in purity and strength, 

 and since it is extremely poisonous (an Indian arrow poison) 

 its internal administration is undesirable, tseudo-aconitine 

 (CasH^gNOu), aconine (O25H39NO11), and other alkaloids in com- 

 bination with aconitic acid (CsHeOs), have been obtained from 

 aconite, but their identity and chemistry are uncertain. 



Aconite Bose.—E. & C, gr.iii-xx. (.2-1.3) ; D., gr.-jJjj-iL 

 (.006-. 12). 



Aconitince Nitras. (Squibb.) Subcutaneously. 



H., gr.^ (.002) ; D., gJ^.^hrrh (.0003-.0006). 



AcoNmNA. Aconitine. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Occurs in colorless or white rhombic tables or prisms, 

 possessing no odor, and permanent in the air. Almost 

 insoluble in water. 



Aconitine often contains a considerable proportion of 

 aconine and benzaconine, and so varies in activity, which is 

 a^reat objection to the use of one of the most powerful 

 drugs known. (Vid. supra). 



PEEPARATIONS. 



Tinctura Aeoniti. Tincture of Aconite. (U. S. & B. P. ) 

 Synonym.— Teiatvire de racine d'aconit, Fr.; eisenhnttinktur, O. 

 Made by maceration and percolation of aconite, 100; with alcohol and 

 water to make 1000. (U. S. P.) . ,„ „ , 01. ^ «„, 



Dose.— H., Tiixx.-3i. (1.3-4.); C, 3ss.-i.8S. (3.-6.); Sh. & Sw., 

 TIIX.-XX. (.6-1.3); D., nii.-x. (.13-.6). 



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