ESERINE. 
499 
hard and shiny, brownish-red in color. Within the shell is a 
kernel consisting of two cotyledons, hard and white. 
The alkaloid was first isolated about 1864, but has never been 
in very general use in the practice of medicine except in the 
treatment of tetanus, and for the purpose of contracting the 
pupil in ocular practice. 
A French surgeon, I think, first advocated its use for the 
treatment of colic in horses about the year 1883 or 1884. Soon 
afterwards Prof. Liautard brought it to the notice of the profes¬ 
sion in this country through the Review, and your servant is 
glad -to say has used it ever since with gratifying results. 
The first knowledge we have had of its use was to poison 
criminals in Africa, and it is said to have always proved fatal 
except when vomiting occurred. 
It is said that nineteen seeds when made into an infusion will 
I 
kill a man in an hour. The principal symptoms are failure of 
muscular power of all parts of the body, and death perhaps from 
paralytic asphyxia, muscular tremor diminished, reflexed action 
and contraction of the pupil; the mind is not affected; there is 
purging and often vomiting, and powerful peristaltic movement. 
In man, there is a feeling of faintness, a loss of vision, extreme 
weakness, slight nausea, pulse irregular, mind normal, and no 
pain. Large doses paralyze or retard, while small doses increase 
intestinal peristalsis and bronchal movements. Hypodermic 
injections of atrophia is a very sure antidote. The alkaloid is the 
preperation mostly used, and if fresh and pure is very positive 
in its action. I fear a poor or decomposed article or a lack of 
knowledge of the dose is the cause of the failure of good results. 
Eserine if exposed to light and air will lose its potency rapidly. 
A solution decomposes, turns first red, then purple; in this 
state does not lose its power to contract the pupil, but is not 
reliable to overcome spasms of tetanus or stimulate peristalsis. 
In the treatment of tetanus in man, eserine is given in one- 
eighth grain doses every two hours until the spasm is relieved, 
when the dose is lessened. For the horse suffering with tetanus 
give from two to four grains per mouth, or one-half that amount 
hypodermically, and perhaps is the best remedy we use in the 
