471 
PRESERVATION OF SYRUP OF IODIDE OF IRON. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—It is complained of the syrupus ferri iodidi that it becomes discoloured 
by keeping, and it has been proposed to make an addition to it for the purpose 
of preventing this. May I ask what objection there may be to exposing the 
syrup for a few hours daily to the direct light of the sun, which may generally 
be accomplished by keeping the bottles in a window ? 
I have kept bottles full, and partly full, and one from which a few ounces 
were taken, pro re nata , for more than six months, without the syrup becoming 
permanently discoloured ; for although at times a slight browning of the upper 
stratum has occurred after opening the bottle in dull weather, a few hours of 
sunlight have sufficed to restore it. 
Syrup which has become quite unfit to send out may be restored by exposure 
in this manner. 
I am, Sir, faithfully yours, 
Thomas H. Holloway. 
Sydenham, March 9, 1868. 
LECTURES ON THE “PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION AND THERAPEUTICAL 
USES OF CONIUM, BELLADONNA, AND HYOSCYAMUS.” 
BY JOHN HARLEY, M.D., F.L.S. 
Lecture I. 
The following is an abstract, specially prepared for this Journal, of the Gulstonian 
lectures lately delivered at the College of Physicians by Dr. John Harley, on “ The 
Physiological Action and Therapeutical Uses of Conium, Belladonna, and Hyoscyamus, 
alone and in combination with Opium.” Although a full account of the physiological 
action of these drugs, not only on man, but on horses and dogs, was given, w r e have 
but room for a condensed description, in order to state more fully the author’s views on 
the doses and uses of these medicines. 
Dr. Harley, in his first lecture, showed, from observations upon himself and others, in 
the treatment of various diseases, that the whole action of conium was confined to the 
motor centres, resulting in temporary depression of the functional activity of the corpora 
striata , the minor centres of motion, and the w'hole reflex function of the spinal cord ; 
the tranquillizing effect of this drug on these excited nervous centres was compared with 
the influence of opium on an over-excited brain. Among the ancient Greek physicians 
some accurate notions of the action of hemlock were entertained, but since their time 
the subject has been so obscured that hardly any advance has been made. 
If an individual be walking about after taking the drug, its action will be first noticed 
in the legs by a heavy, dragging sensation, and distinct impairment of motor power ; 
after taking 5 iij of the “ Succus Couii,” B.P., in addition to the above symptoms, there 
was a want of adaptation of the eye ; for fixed objects the sight w r as good, but not for 
bodies in motion ; after an hour these effects suddenly disappeared. If 5 V or 5 vj are 
taken, more marked symptoms supervene ; a feeling of great lethargy, giddiness, hazy 
vision, disinclination for any muscular exertion, and drooping of the eyelids; the 
rapidity of accession of this loss of voluntary power varies With the dose ; to a man, 
aged fifty-seven, 3 j was given, but the giddiness and weakness came on so quickly that 
he would have fallen without assistance ; in about two hours he had quite recovered 
the use of his limbs. 
The action of hemlock is uniform and invariable in man, but it must be given in such 
doses as will produce a distinct physiological effect, and this effect is proportioned not 
to the muscular strength, but to the motor activity of the individual; thus, those who 
lead a sedentary life are more affected than those of active habits, and a restless child 
will take, without appreciable effect, a dose of conium sufficient to paralyse an adult of 
indolent habits. 
