American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

its action than man. A correspondingly smaller dose must be given, and
repeated quite often.
Toxicity—Poisoning by aconite is not common. An overdose produces in
the mouth and throat a tingling sensation, followed by symptoms of
strangulation from paralysis of the nerve endings. The tingling becomes
quickly general. This is followed by a sensation of numbness. The skin,
relaxing, becomes covered with cold sweat, and finally becomes cold. The
patient becomes too weak to stand, the respiration is greatly depressed
and insufficient, the heart beats more feebly and the pulse may vary every
few minutes in its character, but it is always weak. The temperature falls
rapidly. Aconite depresses the heat centers, and, by dilating the
capillaries of the skin, permits rapid heat radiation, thus at the same
time, acting in a two-fold manner upon the temper-ature. Consequently
the temperature of the surface of the body is a fairly correct criterion by
which to judge of the internal temperature.
There may be vomiting, failure of the special senses from the general
paralyzing effect of the agent, syncope or mild delirum and convulsions.
These symptoms are not usual.
Antidotes—If a full toxic dose be taken, the above symptoms advance
most rapidly, and no time whatever should be lost in combating the
influence of the agent. It has no known physiological antidote. The
conditions must be met according to their indications. If there is any
reason for believing that the stomach contains any of the agent, large
quantities of warm water should be swallowed and immediately
evacuated. It may be vomited or siphoned out with a long stomach tube,
or pumped out, but extreme nauseating emetics are contra-indicated. A
mild infusion of oak bark, drunk freely, serves the double purpose of
diluting the aconite and antidoting it by the tannin it contains. Tannic
acid is believed to be a chemical antidote to a limited extent, and given
in suspension in water is efficient.
The most immediately diffusible stimulants must then be given freely.
Alcoholic stimulants, ammonia, capsicum in a hot infusion, and digitalis,
strophanthus or atropine by hypodermic injection, or nitro- glycerine are
most serviceable remedies. External heat continually and electricity are
demanded. Lobelia should prove valuable. A pint of vinegar, diluted,
saved one life.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 13