ATROPINE. 
§§ 460 - 462 .] 
397 
accelerating centre ; V the inhibitory nerve (vagus) ; A the accelerating 
nerve (sympathetic) ; Z the connection between H and the “ skid ” 
muscular fibres ; H is also connected with B, M, A, and V, but not 
directly with the muscular fibres. 
Atropine paralyses the end apparatus of H, hence the heart beats are 
quickened ; if, in an animal poisoned by 
atropine, electrical excitement of the 
vagus is tried, the heart’s action is no 
longer slowed, as would be the case in 
the normal animal. Atropine paralyses 
H, but leaves M intact. 
Atropine given to dogs for several 
days, first in small doses, 3 mgrms. per 
kilo., then increasing up to 110 mgrms., 
causes pathological changes in the ner¬ 
vous ganglion cells of the heart, the 
protoplasm darkens, the nucleus is not 
so sharp in contour, and the chromatin 
disappears more or less—these changes 
have not been observed in single fatal d 
§ 460. Diagnosis. —The diagnosis of atropine poisoning may be very 
difficult unless the attention of the medical man be excited by some 
suspicious circumstance. A child suffering from belladonna rash, with 
hot dry skin, quick pulse, and reddened fauces, looks not unlike one 
under an attack of scarlet fever. Further, as before mentioned, some 
cases are similar to rabies ; and again, the garrulous delirium and the 
hallucinations of an adult are often very similar to those of delirium . 
tremens, as well as to mania. 
§ 461. Post-mortem Appearances. —The post-mortem appearances 
do not seem to be characteristic, save in the fact that the pupils remain 
dilated. The brain is usually hypersemic, and in one case the absence 
of moisture seems to have been remarkable. The stomach and intes¬ 
tines may be somewhat irritated if the seeds, leaves, or other parts of 
the plant have been eaten ; but the irritation is not constant if the 
poisoning has been by pure atropine, and still less is it likely to be 
present if atropine has been administered subcutaneously. 
§ 462. Treatment. —The great majority of cases recover under 
treatment. In 112 cases collected by F. A. Falck, 13 only were fatal 
(11-6 per cent.). The greater portion of the deaths in India are those 
of children and old people—persons of feeble vitality. The Asiatic 
treatment, which has been handed down by tradition, is the application 
of cold water to the feet; but the method which has found most favour 
in England is treatment by pilocarpine, a fifth of a grain or more being 
injected from time to time. Pilocarpine shows as perfect antagonism 
>ses. 
