Case 19. Tincture (B. P.), 30 minims. Recovery. Salt and water one and a half hours after poison. Sulphate of zinc two hours after poison. Charcoal, brandy, and water by mouth. William Hard man (Brit. Med. Jour., vol. i, p. 1320, '93).
Case 20. Preparation not stated. Five drops. Recovery. Belladonna and stro phanthus, champagne, brandy, heaters. J. D. Leigh (Edinburgh Med. Jour., vol.
xl, p. 638, '95).
Reported by R. W. Greenleaf (Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., July 15, '97).
Therapeutics.—Aconite is mainly used as an arterial sedative. By diminishing the force and the rapidity of the heart's action, it lessens blood-pressure, and, in doing this, tends to allay spasm and relieve undue excitability of the nerve centres. It is, therefore, indicated while the pulse is high and resisting.
Aconite causing increased perspira tion, it is indicated where, with a high pulse, there is dryness of the skin. The evaporation of sweat from the surface and the heat-radiation due to the in creased peripheral circulation resulting from relaxation of the cutaneous capil laries also cause a reduction of temper ature. Aconite also possesses diuretic properties. Hence it appears to be en dowed with all the qualities requisite in the incipient stage of uncomplicated inflammatory disorders, as an anodyne sedative.
In children aconite may be given when ever the spasmodic element is clearly marked: in fever preceding attacks of quinsy, pharyngitis, etc.; in asthma and the asthmatic crises of bronchial ade nopathy; in pertussis and other spas modic coughs; in laryngismus stridulus; in palpitations associated or not with hypertrophy of the heart; and in con vulsions. (Comby.) • The tincture of aconite may be used with safety for the reduction of the tem perature when dangerous symptoms, as restlessness, jactitation, and delirium (which are forerunners of eclampsia or coma) are present. A child of S years could take 1 minim, and one of 12 years 1 V, minims every three hours. J. Lewis Smith (Archives of Pediatrics, Dec., '91).
By reason of its sedative and depress ant action aconite is contra-indicated in all cases in which prostration exists or threatens. If the respiration is embar rassed, if the heart is in asystole, if the patient is depressed, recourse must be had to tonics and stimulants. In bron cho-pumonia, pneumonia after the primary stage, valvular affections of the heart, and in all cases of collapse occur ring in acute infectious diseases, aconite is particularly contra-indicated.