Oil of gaultheria tried in 122 cases of arthritis of various kinds, with uni formly encouraging results. When com bined with suitable balneotherapy, the patients were cured more rapidly.'than when treated with baths alone. It is administered in capsules, each capsule containing IS drops of the oil. Two cap sules are given at a time, beginning when retiring, two one hour later, and two more during the night. E. von Rotten biller (Klinisch-therap. Woch., May 20, 1900).
GELSEMIUM.—Gelsemium, U. S. P., or yellow jasmine, is the dried rhizome and rootlets of the Gelsemium semper virens, a climbing plant indigenous to the southern United States. The odor is aromatic and oppressive and the taste bitter. Gelsemium contains a resinoid, gelsemin; an acid, gelsemic or gelseminic acid; and an alkaloid, gelseminine, which occurs in small, white, microscopical crystals which have no odor, but an in tensely-persistent, bitter taste. The al kaloid forms salts which are freely sol uble in water. The alkaloid itself is soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform.
Preparations and Dose.—Extract of gelsemium, fluid, 2 to 3 minims.
Tincture of gelsemium, 2 to 15 min ims.
Gelseminine (alkaloid and salts),/ 120.
to V„ grain.
Physiological Action. — Preparations of gelsemium do not produce gastric irri tation. The active principle diffuses into the blood with great facility. In moder ate doses gelsemium causes a feeling of languor and calm, slowing of the heart action, drooping of the eyelids, dilatation of the pupils, and some feebleness of mus cular movement. In larger doses gelse mium causes vertigo, amblyopia, diplo pia, paralysis of the muscles of the upper eyelid so that it cannot be raised, dilated'_ pupil, labored respiration, slow and feeble action of the heart, great muscular weakness, and diminished sensibility to pain and touch. These effects follow in a half-hour after stomach ingestion and last two or three hours, when they sub side. (Barth°low.) Case in which 10-minim doses of the fluid extract of gelsemium caused marked reduction of the pulse; it was then brought to 42 by an 11-drop dose. J. A. Muenich (Med. World, Aug., '91).
Poisoning by Gelsemium. — When lethal doses are taken the physiological effects are intensified. A staggering gait is followed by a loss of muscular power and a sense of general numbness over the whole body. The eyelids close, the mus
cles being paralyzed; the pupils become widely dilated and fail to respond to the stimulus of light; vision is lost. The lower jaw drops, the tongue becomes paralyzed, and speech is lost. The respi rations are irregular, shallow, and la bored. The heart-action is feeble and intermittent. The skin is generally cov ered with a profuse perspiration. The body-heat is markedly lowered. Internal strabismus is apt to occur (paralysis of sixth pair); the face becomes pinched and anxious. Death occurs from centric respiratory failure.
Case of poisoning observed from the tincture of gelsemium administered to a woman, aged 40, suffering from severe neuralgia; 10-minim doses every two or three hours were given the first day, and, no relief being obtained, 20-minim doses were administered for another twenty-four hours. Symptoms of poi soning then came on, consisting in a total loss of power in the tongue, alter ation in vision, with widely-dilated pupils, and uncertain power of the muscles of the hand and arm. The pa tient was perfectly conscious. Then grain of strychnine was injected. and in ten minutes a change for the bet ter was noted. The vision was not per feetiv restored for some hours.. Edward Jepson (Brit. \Ied. Jour., Sept. 19, '91).
Though consciousness is present for a long time, drowsiness or stupor finally appears.
Treatment of Gelsemium Poisoning.— The evacuation of the stomach by means of emetics or the stomach-pump should be followed by the use of cardiac stimu lants (ammonia and digitalis), the appli cation of artificial respiration, external heat, and the hypodermic administration of atropine and strychnine to stimulate the respiratory centre. The maintenance of the horizontal posture is desirable. Faradization and the hot and cold douche are to be borne in mind.
Therapeutics.—Exaltation of sensory or motor function is an indication for the use of gelsemium. Small doses should be used at first, until the susceptibility of the patient is ascertained. Ptosis, or drooping of the upper eyelid, gives warn ing that the physiological action of the drug is present.