ACONITE AS A SEDATIVE AND MEDICINAL AGENT. 469 
In the first place, I may state that it was my first trial 
with aconite as a medicinal agent in tetanns, and certainly if 
the opportunity presents itself again it shall not be the last. 
From Mr. Simpson's remarks, I should infer he considered 
the dose given too small to do either good or harm. But, 
on the contrary, I contend that the preparation, if good 
(and none better than Fleming's), will act well and sufficiently 
in ten minim doses. I will even go a step further by stating 
I consider Fleming's tonic aconite in the quantity just named 
will act sedatively (if I may so express myself), as well as 
the generally prescribed dose of hydrocyanic acid, viz. 5ij. I 
know, as I have previously remarked, that aconite in veteri- 
nary medicine has but few friends ; in fact, I have heard an 
eminent member of our profession say that 3j of the tincture 
might be given at one dose without doing any harm. (I 
should question the quality of the drug, as my experience 
with it has taught me very differently.) Mr. Simpson 
tells us that the only marked effect he ever noticed be- 
longing to aconite, whether given in large or small doses, 
was that it gave the animal much trouble from the ting- 
ling sensation it produced in the mouth. I would ask, is 
that all that a powerful sedative does? And I think it 
cannot be denied that aconite is such an one. Is there no 
marked effect on the pulse, breathing, and general state of 
the patient ? Unquestionably there is. To prove that it 
does influence the heart’s action, I may state that I have 
repeatedly given it in enteritis, and in instances where the 
pulse has numbered 100 per minute. After the administration 
of ten minims of Fleming's Tinct. Aconite, the pulse has in less 
than five minutes dropped to 70. This surely is something 
more than -frothy saliva from the mouth, and I should ima- 
gine could scarcely fail to attract the notice of the profes- 
sional attendant. My object, however, in recording the case 
in question and its treatment, was not, neither are these re- 
marks now intended, to push into notice any novel treatment 
for the disease, but because I believed the case an interesting 
one, and also that aconite as a sedative was deserving of more 
attention than it at present gets. Hitherto, hydrocyanic 
acid has been my favourite medicine in tetanus, and I still 
think most highly of it. Be, however, the drug hydrochloric 
acid or aconite, it is evident at all events, so far as our pre- 
sent knowledge goes, that the use of sedatives in the majo- 
rity of cases of tetanus is indispensable. Until, therefore, 
more light is thrown upon this all-important disease, we must 
be content to adopt such measures (and those that are cal- 
culated to answer our purpose best), as are within our reach. 
