446 
RESEARCHES  ON  ACONITE. 
attached  to  A.  variegatum.  This  applies  to  the  wild  plant  as  well 
as  to  the  cultivated,  whatever  be  its  place  of  growth. 
3d.  The  wild  plants  of  either  species,  contain  more  of  the  ac- 
tive principle  than  the  cultivated  plants.  A.  storckianum,  culti- 
vated by  M.  Reichenbach,  in  gardens,  had  but  a  slight  activity  as 
demonstrated  by  the  physical  properties  of  the  fresh  and  dried 
plant,  and  especially  by  physiological  experiments. 
4th.  All  parts  of  the  plant  are  active  ;  nevertheless,  the  root 
is  the  most  energetic,  young  or  old ;  then  comes  the  herb  before 
flowering  ;  and  the  seeds  which  are  least  active. 
5th.  The  herbaceous  portion  of  the  aconite  plant,  has  the  most 
energy  just  before  the  latest  flowers,  yet  at  that  time  the  root  is 
at  least  six  times  more  active. 
6th.  Carefully  dried,  and  kept  from  contact  with  moist  air,  the 
herb  preserves  its  activity  a  long  time,  if  it  has  a  fine  green  co- 
lor ;  but  if  it  is  moist,  it  loses  its  activity,  and  acquires  by  drying 
a  dirty  color. 
7th.  Extracts  obtained  by  the  inspissation  of  the  fresh  juice 
are  a  great  deal  less  active  than  the  alcoholic  extracts,  which 
represent  all  the  activity  of  the  plant,  and  it  may  be  said  that 
the  aqueous  extract  is  found  to  bear  relation  to  the  alcoholic  in 
this  regard  as  one  to  four. 
8th.  Aconitine  represents  the  narcotic  property  of  aconite, 
but  this  contains,  besides,  an  acrid  principle  which  has  not  yet 
been  isolated,  and  wThich  exists  in  suflicient  quantity  to  cause  an 
inflammation,  to  a  great  extent,  of  the  alimentary  canal.  Aco- 
nite consequently  merits  to  be  placed  among  the  acro-narcotic 
medicines  and  poisons. 
9th.  Aconite  in  general,  and  especially  aconitine,  applied  ex- 
teriorly on  the  eye,  or  given  internally  in  sufficient  quantity,  pro- 
duces a  dilatation  of  the  pupil,  a  result  in  opposition  to  the  opinion 
generally  held  by  pharmacologists. 
10th.  Aconite  as  well  as  aconitine,  given  internally,  appears  to 
have  a  special  and  elective  action  on  the  trigeminal  nerve  ;  they 
produce  in  all  parts  animated  by  the  ramifications  of  this  nerve, 
peculiar  and  often  painful  sensations. 
11th.  Aconite  and  aconitine,  given  in  sufficient  quantity,  pro- 
duces in  a  healthy  man  and  in  the  rabbit  an  extraordinary  aug- 
mentation of  urine. 
