Case of belladonna poisoning after the administration of a 2-grain belladonna pessary in a woman aged 62 years. In attempting to administer some medicine with a spoon she started violently at the moment the spoon touched her lips. The approach of a candle in order to study the reaction of the pupils gave the same result. Her face was much congested. There was no stertor. This condition continued for almost twelve hours, after which she awakened with a slight head ache, but without any recollection of what had transpired. Reuell Atkinson (Brit. Med. J our., Feb. 25, '99).
Case in which there occurred symp toms of belladonna poisoning after the application, to the back, of an ordinary perforated belladonna plaster. Prior to its application the skin had been freely rubbed with a towel. H. Aldersmith (Brit. Med. Jour., May 27, '99).
Treatment of Belladonna Poisoning.— The treatment of poisoning by bella donna is the same as that outlined for atropine poisoning: Evacuation of the stomach by emetics or stomach-pump. Morphine to grain) should be given hypodermically, repeated at inter vals according to the urgency of the symptoms and the response to the rem edy. Pilocarpine to grain) or eserine to grain) may be used in the same manlier. When the patient shows signs of improvement, castor-oil may be given to evacuate the bowels and remove any remaining particles of the poisonous leaves, berries, or root. Strong coffee and alcohol are useful agents if the patient is conscious and can swallow.
Case of a woman confined three or four days before. Found a slight rash all over the body, which had the appear ance of measles, and somewhat cres centic in character; temperature a little over 101°. On inquiry learned an oint ment containing extract of belladonna was being used on breasts with a view to getting rid of her milk. It was a belladonna rash. Have seen several cases of belladonna poisoning from the local application of belladonna liniment. Campbell (Montreal Med. Jour., Dec., '96).
Case of a man, aged 45, who took, on on empty stomach at 5.30 A.M., a little over an ounce of glycerinum helladonnm: the equivalent of about 3 grains of atropine. Treated by apomorphine, strychnine, and morphine subcutane ously. Recovery occurred after twenty four hours. There was no maniacal ex citement, but delirium and coma; the first prominent symptom was muscular inco-ordination. The experiments of the
Edinburgh committee go to show that morphine is not antagonistic to atropine, although atropine is to morphine; but one or two cases are on record where morphine by subcutaneous injection re lieved the symptoms of atropine poison ing. One case is specially mentioned by Binz where a boy had eaten the seeds of Datum stra won in in, the alkaloid of which is in many respects identical with atropine. In this case death seemed in evitable, and as a last resource morphine was administered, with the result that the grave symptoms were arrested, and the boy speedily recovered. In the case just recorded there seemed to he un doubtedly great benefit derived from morphine, as the delirium and halluci nations subsided almost immediately, and remained permanently in abeyance. Duncan (Brit. Med. Jour., May S, '97).
Therapeutics. — G A S TR O-INTESTINAL DISORDERS.—Mercurial ptyalism and the ptyalism of pregnancy may be relieved by the tincture of belladonna given in closes of 5 to 10 drops every four to six hours. Gastralgia and the pain of gas tric ulcer are relieved by atropine. Rartholow suggests the following:— Atropine sulph., grain.
Zinc sulph., 30 grains. Distilled water, 1 ounce.—M.
From 3 to 5 drops twice or thrice a day.
He recommends a similar combina tion as very effective in pyrosis, chronic gastric catarrh, and irritative dyspepsia. Vomiting of pregnancy may be relieved by the internal administration of/ 120 grain of atropine sulphate, in water, be fore meals; if the stomach is irritable, the atropine may be given in supposi tory, or, dissolved in chloroform (1 to 96), it may be used on lint applied to the Habitual constipation may be relieved by to '/, grain of the extract in pill, taken at bed-time. (Trousseau.) Added to other purgatives it dimin ishes their griping action, and, since it increases peristalsis and allays spasm, it increases their efficiency. When there exists a torpor of the lower bowel aloin is a valuable addition. An excellent combination is 1 Aloin, Ext. nux vomica, Resin podophyllin, of each, 7, ' Ext. belladonna, grain.
Make 2 pills. One or two at bed-time. Heart-burn and water-brash may be re lieved by atropine grain) combined with 5 drops of dilute muriatic acid, well diluted and taken before meals.