INFLUENCE  OF  LIQUOR  POTASSiE  ON  HENBANE,  ETC.  229 
the  same.  It  was,  however,  shown  that  the  carbonates  and  bi- 
carbonates  of  the  alkalies  were  devoid  of  the  property  of  destroy- 
ing the  activity  of  the  plants.  In  some  of  Dr.  Garrod's  experi- 
ments as  much  as  a  drachm  of  the  extract  of  henbane  and  an 
ounce  and  a  half  of  the  tincture  were  administered  in  combina- 
tion with  potash,  without  the  production  of  the  slightest  symp- 
tom. 
The  results  arrived  at  in'  the  communication  may  be  thus 
summed  up  : — 
1st.  Caustic  alkalies,  such  as  exist  in  liquor  potassse  or  liquor 
sodse,  entirely  destroy  the  activity  of  henbane,  preventing  its 
action  on  the  pupil  when  topically  applied,  and  its  influence  upon 
the  system  when  internally  administered  ;  and,  combined  with 
a  proper  amount  of  these  alkalies,  the  largest  doses  of  the  pre- 
parations of  henbane  may  be  given  without  the  production  of 
of  any  symptoms. 
2ndly.  The  same  influence  is  exerted  by  the  fixed  caustic 
alkalies  upon  belladonna  and  stramonium. 
3rdly.  The  carbonates  and  bicarbonates  of  potash  and  soda 
produce  no  injurious  effects  upon  the  preparations  of  any  of  the 
three  above-named  plants. 
The  deductions  naturally  to  be  drawn  from  these  results 
are : — 
a.  That  neither  liquor  potassse  nor  any  caustic  fixed  alkali 
should  be  prescribed  with  tincture  or  extract  of  henbane,  as  the 
virtues  of  the  latter  drug  are  thereby  completely  neutralized. 
h.  That  when  it  is  desirable  to  administer  an  alkaline  remedy 
with  henbane,  either  a  carbonate  or  bicarbonate  should  be  select- 
ed, which  would  probably  be  equally  efficacious  upon  the  stomach, 
if  such  influence  be  required,  and  certainly  as  efficient  in  alter- 
ing the  condition  of  the  urine,  and  the  mucous  membrane  of  the 
urinary  passages. 
c.  That  the  same  precautions  should  be  observed  with  regard 
to  belladonna  and  stramonium,  if  at  any  time  prescribed  in  con- 
junction with  alkalies. — London  Pharm.,  Jou?*n.,  March  1858. 
