ATROPINE, a crystalline alkaloid ob tained from the deadly nightshade. Its chemical formula is The plant con tains the alkaloid hyoscyamine, which, by the addition of potash to the juice, is converted into atropine. The atropine is extracted by shaking the alkaline liquid with chloroform. The layer of chloroform is evaporated, leav ing a residue which is extracted by means of dilute sulphuric acid and precipitating with potassium carbonate. The alkaloid is re crystallized from alcohol. Atropine itself is insoluble in water, but its sulphate is readily soluble. It is extremely poisonous. Large doses cause delirium, convulsions, and finally stupor and death. It is employed for several purposes in medicine, to relieve pain or spasm, and to arrest excessive sweats. The physio logical action of atropine is chiefly exerted on the nervous system. It is a strong stimulant, particularly of the motor and respiratory centres, and paralyzes the end filaments of many nerves, particularly those that supply the secretory glands, the involuntary muscles and the heart. Its chief poisonous symptoms
are, in the stage of excitement, dryness of the mouth and pharynx, with anaesthesia, a hot dry skin, dilatation of the pupil with blurred vision, due to paralysis, extreme restlessness, due to the motor excitation, a noisy, busy and incoherent brain action, perhaps a delirium, quickened pulse, quickened respiration. This stage may pass into one of depression in which the patient becomes comatose, the pulse and respiration become slowed and death results from asphyxia. Treatment of the poisoning should include prompt washing of the stomach, emetics being of no service because of the anaesthesia, artificial respiration, infusions of hot coffee, and general supportive measures. See BELLADONNA; SOLANACE./E.