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SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
3. It does not have a marked effect on intestinal secretion, 
only temporarily suspending it. 
4. It slightly augments peristalsis, but not sufficiently to 
warrant its use for this purpose. 
5. It stimulates the respiratory function, and in fact in¬ 
creases the capacity of the lungs. 
6. It dilates the pupil (mydriatic.) 
7. Internally it has no marked effect on pain, except on the 
urino-generative tract, but ranks high as a local anodyne. 
8. It dilates the capillaries and stimulates the action of the 
heart, and is therefore stimulant to the periphic circulation. 
Therapeutics :—Belladonna has two general indications, viz., 
inflammation and passive hypersemia. In any of the organic 
inflammatory diseases, or in any inflammatory condition, bella¬ 
donna deserves to be considered in connection with their thera¬ 
peutics. To say that belladonna is indicated in inflammation 
seems a very broad statement, and one which will probably be 
accepted unchallenged. But when the pathological process 
(inflammation) is carefully reviewed, and the total effects of the 
drug carefully weighed, the statement is not so ambiguous as it 
seemed without consideration. 
The period of inflammation in which belladonna is useful, 
if not almost a curative agent, is the stage succeeding the stage 
of engorgement, i. e . the second or moist stage. Its tendency 
here is to correct the vascular alteration and to limit exudations, 
which in croupous, catarrhal, diphtheretic inflammation is pre¬ 
cisely what is desired. To limit the exudations of bronchitis, 
laryngitis or pulmonitis, is no more nor less than decreasing the 
ravages of inflammation, especially in the latter, when the in¬ 
flammatory exudates gradually close the respiratory tract, it is 
part of the great battle to combat them ; and besides, in this 
disease, that part of the lung that is not affected is rendered 
more capable of performing its function. 
In these respiratory diseases, belladonna also possesses the 
property of preventing cough, which is caused by the inflamma¬ 
tory secretions, as well as the inflammation itself; in the former 
by drying secretions, and in the latter by allaying the irrita¬ 
tion. In pleuritis it should prevent hydro-thorax, although I 
cannot substantiate the statement from experience, as I have 
never administered it with this end in view. 
In secondary nephritis occurring along the course of in¬ 
fectious diseases, especially when the condition has been aggra¬ 
vated by the liberal use of diuretics, belladonna has a beneficial 
