Heroin is an artificial derivative of morphine (diacetyl mor phine hydrochloride) and is more toxic than morphine. It has been largely used medicinally. It is a dangerous drug of addic tion (see DRUG ADDICTION).
Belladonna.—The belladonna or deadly nightshade, atropa belladonna, contains an alkaloid, atropine, which is largely used by oculists to procure dilatation of the pupils of the eye. The brown or black berries of the plant have been eaten by children, who are attracted by their cherry-like appearance. Belladonna produces dilatation of the pupils, rapid pulse, hot dry flushed skin, with an eruption not unlike that of scarlatina, soreness of the throat, with difficulty of swallowing, intense thirst and delirium.
The treatment consists in evacuation of the poison by means of the stomach-pump, and the hypodermic injection of morphia, as a counter-poison. Stramonium, hyoscyamus (henbane), hyos cyamine, hyoscine and scopolamine all produce symptoms simi lar to atropine poisoning, the narcotic effects being more marked.
Aconite Poisoning.—The ordinary aconite, wolfsbane or monks hood (Aconitum Napellus), and an alkaloid extracted from it, aconitine, are perhaps the most deadly of known poisons. One sixteenth of a grain of aconitine, its active alkaloid, has proved fatal to a man. All the preparations of aconite produce a peculiar burning, tingling and numbness of the parts to which they are applied. When given in large doses they produce violent vomit
ing, as a rule, more or less paralysis of motion and sensation, and great depression of the heart, usually ending in death from syn cope. Intelligence remains unaffected till almost the last.
The treatment consists in the hypodermic injection of digitalin, which is a counter-poison in its action upon the heart. The root of aconite has been eaten in mistake for that of horse-radish.
Cocaine Poisoning.—Cocaine is the active alkaloid of coca leaves. The hydrochloride salt is the commonly used preparation. It is a powerful deliriant narcotic poison. If taken by the mouth or given hypodermically or otherwise absorbed it may cause de lirium and coma. Sometimes convulsions and sudden death oc cur. It acts on the heart and may cause fatal syncope. Cocaine is a dangerous drug of addiction (see DRUG ADDICTION).
Organic Compounds Used as Hypnotics.—These if taken in ex cessive doses act as poisons, and the symptom which attracts attention is the deep coma produced.
Examples are :—chloral, veronal and its derivatives, medinal, proponal, luminal, also sulphonal, trional and tetronal. Any hypnotic drug if taken in excessive quantity will act as a coma producing poison. (See BARBITURIC ACID and SULPHONAL.)