, 1886-09-04
THREE pupIL-oILATlNe PoisoNs.
characteristics of n Peculiar Group
The SYMPTOMS They Produce-Rem
edIes.

characteristics of a Peculiar Group
The SYMPTOMS They Produoe-Rem-
edIes.
There is u peculiar group OF poisons
whose action is to dilate the pupils In
stead of contracting them. like opium, to
arrest the secretions of the skin, to stimu-
lafe the brain, causing delirium, and par
alyze the ends of the nerves of motion; to
stimulate the spinal cord and then paral-
we 1t; to increase the action of the heart
and then to bring it to a stand-stll.
These drugs are ~belladonna (the deadly
night shade), hyoscyamus, thenbane), and
stramonium Crimson weed" or thorn
apple). These all act alike, but vary in
strength, the order in which they have
been named being that of their destructive
qualities. They allay pain, but not to
the same extent as opium, and induce
sleep TO some degree.
The symptoms produced are alike, and
are as follows, when given in poisonous
doses: Heat and dryness of the mouth and
throat, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, indis-
tinct or doubl vision, delirum, great ex-
element, commissions followed by stupor
and Inconsistencies. the pupils OF the
eyes are dilated to their utmost, and light
does not affect them. The face Is red
NShSt ~ oh tiupilOn 6iniiidi W thht VI
scarlet fever; the eyes are fixed and
brilliant; the gait is tottering; and the de-
lrium is such as to cause silly talk and
frequent bursts of causeless laughter.
The berries, root and leaves of bella dopna
have each caused fatal poisoning. The
active principle, atropine, Is an extremely
powerful drug, producing the same eff
fects when taken in very minute doses.
Poisoning may result from applying a
bellndonna plaster to the skin, especially
II the surface Is broken. Most cases of
%belladonna poisoning resul from mis-
takes in prescribing or administering
remedies. Its use by criminals is rare.
Stamonium, or "jimson weed, - is such II
common plant and accessible to every
one that poisoning from the careless
swallowing of its seeds is not at
all uncommon. Scarcely a year
passes but some child dies from this
cause in our city. The authorizes are
certainly responsible for such accidents,
as 1t would be al easy matter to cause
every plant of the kind to be destroyed
before the seeds lave matured. In India
n similar plant is often made use of by
the Thugs to render their victims help
less The symptoms are the same as those
of belladonna poisoning. 1t is likely that
some Of the "druggingn employed by the
hiCNC III III 1ouhbi0 ~
done with preparations of stramonium
seeds.
Henbane (-hyoscyamus) is poisonous in
every part. Leaves, roots an seeds pro-
duce effects like those observed after
poisoning by belladonna, but the dose re
CURED to produce such results is much
larger. Twenty of the seeds have been
known to produce poisoning, and the same
may be said of the "jimson weed"
The treatment of poisoning by any Of
these three plants is to remove all that
may remain in the stomach by the most
prompt and effective emetlcs; in case these
do not act, the stomach tube must be
brought into use. Then give castor oil to
remove any of the poisonous materials
that may have passed beyond the stom-
ach. As there is no trustworthy chemical
antidote, morphine may be given eau.
tiously on account of its action being OPP
posed in most particulars to that of these
poisons. Coffee and alcohol should be
given If the heart becomes very weak, as
shown by the pulse. Animal charcoal
and tannin ave been given, although
there do not appear to be any very good
reasons for administering them.-Cor.
Globe-Democrat.