Atropine decreases the amount of urine, apparently by virtue of a para lyzing action on the terminations of the vagus. Lazar() and Pitini (Archivo di Farm. e Ter., v; Deutsche med.-Zeit.. Feb. 3, '98).
Case in which patient took 15 to 20 drops of an atropine solution which had heen ordered for him for a conjunctivitis. When examined he showed sugar in his urine. After this had disappeared it was found that 100 grammes of grape-sugar would readily produce an alimentary glycosuria, and that, therefore. he was a ready subject of alimentary glyeosuria. The administration of large doses of atropine to guinea-pigs produced in four or five attempts the appearance of gly cosuria. In some of these cases grape sugar was given to them at the same time. In some, it was, therefore, an alimentary glycosuria; in others it ap peared spontaneously when no grape sugar was given, and was evidently due to the atropine. (Dent. med. Woeh., July 13, '99).
The action of atropine on the sympa thetic nervous system and the circula tion is that of a direct and powerful stimulant. During the operation of medicinal doses the heart contracts with increasing vigor, the arteries increase in tone and volume, the capillary system is also stimulated, and a diffused warmth is felt throughout the body. If the dose be excessive, overstimulation is produced and signs of exhaustion are soon mani fest. The maximum stimulant effect follows the use of moderate doses only, generally grain, not more than gram.
Several experiments made prove that the rise of temperature is not spinal, as heretofore held by me. The results ob tained with the ingestion of atropine, after various operations, such as section in front of the ports Varolii and of the medulla oblongata, were so similar to those obtained after the same operations without atropine that T find it difficult to speak accurately as to the cerebral centre affected. The slight rise of tem perature observed in the rabbit after puncturing the medulla oblongata or pons Varolii has not led me to believe in the existence, in these bodies. of thermogenic centres. I therefore con clude that, until the existence of heat centres in the medulla and pons has been accurately determined, it is useless to assume that atropine acts upon them.
Ott (Jour. of Nerv. and Mental Dis.. Nov.. '93).
The skin becomes the seat of a sensa tion of warmth followed by a temporary blush. and in children and adults of light complexion is sometimes followed by a scarlet suffusion, described by some as a "scarlatinous rash." In persons subject to vascular irritation of the skin the redness remains and its disappear ance may be attended with slight rough ness and desquamation. Harley states that the general effect of atropine on the circulation predisposes to sweating; but Ringer, Bartholow, and others as cribe to atropine a strong inhibitory action over the sweat-glands. Certain it is, however, that atropine inhibits the secretory function of the mammary and salivary glands.
As regards the function of the liver, Harley believes atropine to be a chola gogue. By the action of atropine upon the unstriped muscular fibres, intestinal peristalsis is intensified.
Experiments made upon two persons suffering from gastric catarrh and two others who were in a state of health showing that atropine distinctly lessens the secretion of the gastric juice. When medicinal doses were used in healthy persons the decrease was very marked, while in those who had gastric catarrh no changes were noted. Panow (Wratsch, No. 7, '90).
Atropine, in doses of V, grain, is able to instantly kill the leucoeytes contained in 3 ounces of human blood, and in quantities of grain the leucocytes contained in 3 ounces of human blood live but a few hours. On the other hand, the leucoeytes contained in 3 ounces of blood of the rabbit were not affected by a dose of grain of atro pine. 11Iaurel (Bull. Gen. de Then, Apr. 15, '92).
Atropine, like quinine, in daily doses of 7„ grain produces a lessening in the number of leucocytes in the blood and in the amount of uric acid eliminated by the kidneys. Horbaezewski (Revue de Ther. Gen. et Thermal, Sept. 20, '92; These de Bordeaux, T. C., Dee. 3, '92).