C0N1UM, BELLADONNA, AND HYOSCYAMUS. 4?5 
la the same individual one ounce of the tincture of hyoscyamus produced similar 
effects, but in a minor degree. 
Children will often take a very large quantity of henbane: an ounce of the above- 
mentioned succus, or an ounce of the tincture, has been given to children of twelve 
years of age, with no other effect than to accelerate the pulse 30 or 40 beats for an hour, 
and then it gradually declines. Doses varying from 5 ij to ^j of the juice and tincture 
have been given continuously to young patients without producing any dryness of the 
mouth, or any other symptom beyond increased frequency of the pulse and dilatation of 
the pupil. 
In the adult from ^vj to 5viij of the tincture, or 10 to 15 grains of the recent 
extract, are usually sufficient to produce decided dryness of the roof of the mouth, acce¬ 
leration of the pulse, dilated pupil, and a moderate degree of somnolency. 
In its action upon the system, hyoscyamus appears to be intermediate between opium 
and belladonna, possessing, as it does, on the one hand, somniferous properties second 
only to opium itself, and, on the other hand, having an influence upon the sympathetic 
nervous system, as indicated by the pulse, second only to that possessed by belladonna, 
although, like opium in some respects, its influence upon the pulse, pupils, and mucous 
membrane of the mouth place it in strong contrast with that drug; and, on comparing 
it with belladonna, its deliriant or somniferous properties are found to preponderate. 
Like atropia, this alkaloid may be found in the urine twenty-two minutes after the 
injection of Jg-th of a grain of hyoscyamia subcutaneously, and two hours and a half 
after jij of the “ succus ” were taken into the stomach. The urinary constituents do 
not appear to undergo any alteration. With both these drugs a paralysed condition of 
the bladder often results from their administration. It is generally stated that bella¬ 
donna and opium are antagonistic, and little hesitation would be felt in a case of 
poisoning by either to give an equal dose of the other as an antidote. To these state¬ 
ments, and to the conclusions derived from them, Dr. Harley brought forward very 
strong objections. 
Experiments were made upon man, the horse, and the dog. 
On the horse a series of complete observations were made, and the effects (l) of 
atropia and morphia separately administered, and (2) of the combined action of the 
same doses given simultaneously, were carefully noted. 
When opium or morphia is given to a horse, its deliriant action is more marked, and 
far exceeds its hypnotic effects ; in this respect it differs much from its usual influence 
on man. The pupils never contract under the influence of opium, and the secretion of 
the mouth is much increased. 
The operation of atropia upon this animal is identical with that observed in man. 
Although half a grain of morphia, when given alone, does not affect the horse, yet 
when injected in combination with y^th of a grain of sulphate of atropia, it prolonged 
and increased the symptoms produced by the latter drug. 
Four grains of morphia were given to two horses, and the result w r as a powerful sti¬ 
mulant effect on each, with increased frequency of the pulse, but no delirium. 
On another occasion four grains more were introduced, but at the same moment, and 
by a separate puncture, -J^th of a grain of atropia ; the result was to hasten the action 
of the opium, so that at the end of thirty minutes a state was produced identical with 
that caused by morphia alone at the end of an hour, and in forty minutes was greater 
than at any time during the action of the opium alone. Superadded to the morphia 
symptoms were dilatation of the pupils and dryness of the mouth ; on the other hand, 
the morphia intensified and prolonged for at least five hours the operation of the atropia ; 
and a quantity of atropia too small to produce cerebral effects will, when combined with 
four grains of morphia, intensify its action so as to produce delirium, although the latter 
dose will not do so singly. Thus, so far from exercising an antagonistic influence on 
each other, their combination is greatly to increase the effect of either. 
Twelve grains of morphia were given to three horses, and the symptoms were as 
equally marked as when four grains of morphia and two grains of atropia were given 
simultaneously ; the only difference being that in the latter case there was greater dila¬ 
tation of the pupil, blindness, and parched mouth—symptoms peculiar to the action 
of belladonna. 
In man similar results were obtained. 
