ON  THE  COMPOSITION  OF  CHLORODYNE.  439 
factorily  that  belladonna  does  exist,  there  ought  not  to  be  a 
doubt  in  the  mind  of  any  accurate  observer  of  the  action  of  the 
alkaloids  upon  the  nervous  system  but  that  chlorodyne  even 
does  contain  a  something,  which  modifies  and  changes  the  cha- 
racteristic action  of  morphia  which  every  one  admits  to  exist  in 
this  compound,  and  which  some  believe  to  be  its  only  active 
narcotic  agent.  As  in  my  last  letter  I  appeared  to  base  my 
belief  in  the  presence  of  belladonna  principally  from  the  elFects 
observed  in  the  case  of  poisoning  there  narrated,  I  will  in  this 
communication  endeavor  to  show  my  experience  concerning  the 
action  of  chlorodyne  both  with  and  without  belladonna.  Dr. 
Kidd  states  positively  that  two  preparations  of  chlorodyne  are 
free  from  belladonna,  if  not  all.  But  these  bare  and  brief  re- 
marks, as  a  previous  correspondent  says,  call  for  limited  com- 
ment, so  I  shall  pass  them  by.  But  I  must  have  a  word  with 
your  correspondent  of  last  February,  and  try  to  meet  him  upon 
his  own  ground,  as  his  reasoning  is  not  only  fallacious,  but  con- 
spicuous for  superficial  observation.  The  following  are  some  of 
his  reasons  for  disagreeing  with  my  plausible  suggestion  as  to 
chlorodyne  containing  belladonna  : — 1st.  He  says,  I  have  never 
known  it,  even  in  full  doses,  produce  any  result  at  all  similar  to 
the  well-known  effects  of  belladonna.  Let  me  ask  him  what  are 
the  well-known  effects  of  belladonna  in  ordinary  doses  ?  As  far 
as  my  experience  serves  me — and  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of 
prescribing  this  drug  for  some  years — they  are,  dilatation  of 
pupil,  relaxation  of  muscular  spasm,  somnolency,  vertigo  upon 
first  getting  out  of  bed,  and,  when  continued,  impaired  vision 
(certainly  not  contraction  of  the  pupil).  Has  he  never  found 
any  of  these  symptoms  after  a  full  dose  of  chlorodyne  ?  Again, 
let  me  ask  him,  has  he  ever  found  contraction  of  the  pupil  after 
a  full  dose  of  chlorodyne,  as  he  would  most  decidedly  do,  if,  as 
he  asserts,  its  active  ingredient  is  nothing  more  or  less  than 
morphia?  Or,  again,  has  he  carefully  compared  by  clinical  ex- 
perience, as  I  have  done  repeatedly,  a  mixture  of  chlorodyne 
with  and  without  belladonna  ?  I  most  certainly  think  not.  If 
so,  he  would  have  arrived  at  a  conclusion  rather  different,  as  the 
following  will  prove.  I  took  three  chlorodynes,  viz.,  Dr.  Collis 
Browne's,  one  made  according  to  Mr.  Smith's  form  without 
