aconite.

1343

tills varial 1

ftieut , e P re P a ration. Dose, one or two grains at the commence-di Jce ’j arit * to be gradually increased until some obvious effect is pro-

®te n\^ C0 ^ ITINA -> L. The following directions for mating this alkaloidb en ln the London Pharmacopoeia :—

“

^^Pliuric °/ A C0I1 ' <e , dried and bruised, lb.ij.; Rectified Spirit , Cong. iij.; DilutedJHay lj e ci '^, C| d ; Solution of Ammonia; Purified Animal Charcoal, each as much as" " 1 ‘ "■ : | -u~" th« Snirit for an hour, in a retort

tv"i ” c suffi " ’ “ Jjutl . 0n ot Ammonia; mnnra -.-., _

a* a r eceivo lent 'i l ''. e -Aconite with a gallon of the Spirit for an hour, in a retort

,1 "filer ir- 4 ]i r adapted to it. Pour off the liquor, and again boil the residue witht* 0 ' Let tl° n °' t " e Spirit and the Spirit recently distilled, and pour off the liquor(to" 1 ? mixed' 6 sa , me hfi done a third time. Then press the Aconite, and all the liquorsD.^^tenee r™ strained, let the Spirit distil. Evaporate what remains to the properA ■ a genii i 3n extract . Dissolve this in water, and strain. Evaporate the liquormixed * it may thicken like a syrup. To this add of dilute Sulphuric

!S ] drop j W , distilled water,as much as maybe sufficient to dissolve the Aconitina.

I'Wic solution of Ammonia, and dissolve the Aconitina precipitated, in diluted/gently sj I ""ti ,vat er, mixed as before. Afterwards mix in the Animal Charcoal,b • them during a quarter of an hour. Lastly, strain, and solution of

7 it. ein ff again dropped in that the Aconitina may be precipitated, wash and

m C0ll uic^ na - exas *" s bi the plant in combination with a vegetable acidV; a j c '"- e ’d ?). Alcohol extracts this salt with some other matters.«m ph ° ,° lc extract yields this salt to the water, and on the addition' a "ittio 1 - C aC ^ a su tphate of aconitina is formed, which is decomposed«m ph 1 . a ’ the aconitina precipitated. It is then again dissolveda iu L Unc . ac id, the solution decolorized by charcoal, and the aconitinaTh e p p C1 ^ ltate( ^ b y ammonia.

Sc rihl i y, Slca ^ and chemical properties of aconitina have been alreadyJl, e «1338).

Pcei a . ° Wln g are the notes appended to it in the London Phanna-‘ An alkau

" c ether jP re P are d from the leaves and root of aconite. It is very soluble in sul-D .0 s a]t ’ , e )f in alcohol, and very slightly in water. It is totally consumed in thev e mploy e fi o 6 reiDa ’ n i ,) n- This substance possessing strong power, is not to be

1( 1 bears 01 ']* acwn biua is found in the shops. It is imported from France,f c °lo u ' • e s bunj) and label of a celebrated French chemical firm,"'en 0ll J 18 greyish-yellow. It is inert or nearly so; at least I have’"giie 0r Slain of it without perceiving the least effect of it on the,°b W] ot ler 'vise. It is not completely soluble in either ether or al-g en - len burnt on platinum foil it leaves a calcareous residue. Ther,J Hor s lne aconit ina which I have met with is that manufactured bya . s bnttp] 011 ’ Southampton-row; and Dr. Turnbull informs me that he1,8 to jj °ther to possess any medicinal value. Mr. Skey also found

rile off,, !' case ( see Lond. Med. Gaz. xix. 185).

? lr se, j Q c * °f this alkaloid are similar to those of aconite root, but, ofto) Su bst- UC 1 more P ow ' er ful. If the ointmenl or alcoholic solution ofV' I1 Urnlj iriCe ru bbed into the skin, it causes intense heat, tingling,.te^bhite neSS - " bich continue for more than twelve or eighteen hours., " tira c }j b°rfr°u of an ointment, composed of a grain of the alkaloid tok bug};''* lard, applied to the eye, causes almost insupportable heat0 by p) r S? and contraction of the pupil. This last effect was shewnTurnbull, in some amaurotic cases of several years’ standing,