20
MATERIA MEDICA
it either cheeks or relieves the fits of asthma, hysteria, catalepsy and
epilepsy. No other plan of treatment is so useful as this method in
alleviating the excruciating pain or agony of such diseases as the impac-
tion of calculi in the ureter or biliary ducts, or cancer of the stomach,
breast or uterus. During the last few years I have succeeded in
curing or completely relieving some cases of the former affection (im-
paction) by the injection of morphia within 10 to 20 minutes ; whereas
before that period, I was unable to do the same for a day or two, or, at
least, for many hours, by other plans of treatment.
This injection is also a very good and speedy hypnotic, and it
therefore produces sleep for some hours (occasionally for more than a day),
and successfully the pain in a host of painful and irritative disorders,
including fractures and other injuries. Some patients, particularly the
Europeans, prefer the injection to all sleeping draughts by the mouth,
The dose of morphine I have generally used in this injection is ¼ of a
grain, and only on a few occasions have I increased it to 1/3. The solution
of morphia which is generally adopted by the profession for subcutane-
ous use is the one described in the British Pharmacopœia, edition of
1885, p. 212.
" Hypodermic Injection of morphine. A solution of acetate of mor-
phine containing one grain of the acetate in 10 minims of the injection.
" Preparation.—Dissolve 92 grains of hydrochlorate of morphine in
two ounces of distilled water, aiding the solution by gently heating ; then
add solution of ammonia so as to precipitate the morphine ; allow it to
cool ; collect the precipitate on a filter, wash it with water, and allow it to
drain ; then dissolve it with the aid of heat with sufficient acetic acid, add
now sufficient distilled water to make the solution measure exactly two
ounces. Filter and preserve the product in a stoppered bottle excluded
from the light. Dose by subcutaneous injection-1 to 5 minims.
" Characters and Tests.—A clear solution, free from any solid par-
ticles. Very slightly acid to test paper. A. fluid drachm, rendered
slightly alkaline, by the addition of solution of ammonia, yields a
precipitate of morphine, which, after being washed and dried, should
weigh 4.25 grains, corresponding to 6 grains of acetate of morphine."
I have lately used the morphine injection with a minute quantity of
atropine and found the combination to be very satisfactory and advan-
tageous. The atropine being one of the antidotes of morphine, in
addition to its being an anodyne and antispasmodic, its combination
with the latter drug, not only enhances its general efficacy, but also
renders its employment subcutaneously much safer than when it is used
alone. As it is extremely difficult to combine morphine and atropine
properly in so minute a quantity which is necessary in using them
hypodermically, I have availed myself of Burroughs, Welcome Co.'s
Hypodermic Tabloids,' which are sold in small tubes in all the cities
and towns in South India. They are of different strength, but the one
I have generally used is as follows :-
Morphine sulphate ¼ g r a i n .
Atropine sulphate 1/150 g r a i n .
They are very soluble, and each tabloid perfectly dissolves in 12 or 15
minims of water. The necessary apparatus (small glass syringe with 2