228 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
pain is therefore an anodyne. It will dilate the capillaries and 
lessen the secretions of the skin and mucous membranes to 
which applied. 
Internally its action is probably more complex than any of 
the more common medicines. Although it really has but one 
action, the secondary effects as a result are complicated to the 
extreme. This one action is that of paralyzing the periphery 
of the nervous system, to which might be added : especially of 
secretory nerves. The sensory and motor also share in the de¬ 
pression, but not to the same extent as the secretory nerves. 
As a result of this depression the following phenomena is ob¬ 
served : 
1. By depressing secretory nerves, the whole serial mucosa 
is markedly desiccated. The extreme dryness of the throat in 
human patients is a manifestation of what belladonna does to 
the whole mucosa. The secretion of milk is greatly dimin¬ 
ished, and in some cases entirely arrested. Sudation is greatly 
depressed or even suspended, and as a consequence the skin be¬ 
comes dry. The intestinal secretions are only temporarily sus¬ 
pended, if at all. The action of belladonna on the intestinal 
secretions is not well demonstrated, but it is not disputed that 
the effect upon the intestinal secretion is less than upon other 
secretions. Its action upon the renal secretion is somewhat 
uncertain on account of the depressing action upon the sudori¬ 
parous glands. The function of the skin being suspended, bel¬ 
ladonna may, as a result, actually increase the activity of the 
kidneys. On the salivary secretion the action is decided, the 
parotid and submaxillary glands sharing especially in the de¬ 
pression. 
2. By paralyzing inhibitory nerves the heart’s action is aug¬ 
mented. Both the number and force of the heart beats are in¬ 
creased, but more especially the former. This action of bella- 
dona is due to paralysis of the periphery of the vagus, which 
inhibits the heart’s action. By paralyzing the periphery of the 
splanchnics, belladonna augments the intestinal activity, espe¬ 
cially peristalsis, the intestinal secretion sharing slightly from 
this indirect stimulation. The first effect of the drug upon the 
secretion of the bowels, as already stated, is that of suppression, 
but later when the inhibitory nerves become depressed, the in¬ 
testinal glands resume at least their normal activity. 
3. By paralyzing motor nerves the voluntary muscles be¬ 
come paralyzed, but this effect is noticed only in the later 
stages of belladonna poisoning. In ordinary medicinal dosage 
