American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

CONIUM. Conium maculatum.
Synonyms—Poison Hemlock; Poison Parsley.
CONSTITUENTS—
A volatile alkaloid Conine, Conhydrine, Methylcenine, Pseudo
Conhydrine.
PREPARATIONS—
Extractum Conii, Extract of Conium. Dose, one-half grain.
Extractum Conii Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Conium. Dose, two to six
minims.
Expressed juice of the fresh plant preserved with alcohol. Dose,
three minims.
Specific Conium. Dose, one to five minims.
There is great variation in the quality of the different preparations of
conium, and care must be exercised in selecting a good one.
Physiological Action—When given in a sufficient dose, conium causes
complete relaxation of the whole muscular system; the eyes close, the
movements of the eyeballs are sluggish, mastication and swallowing are
difficult, speech is slow and maintained by an effort, the voice is hoarse,
while the heart and intelligence are not disturbed. In a fatal dose, the
lower limbs become paralyzed, the effect gradually ascending to the
upper part of the body, intelligence being retained to the last.
Administration—If the characteristic odor of this substance is absent, the
probabilities are that it is devoid of value, as it is the volatile principle
which possesses the odor, and it is that upon which its value as a
therapeutic agent depends to a great extent. Care must be taken in
diluting fluid preparations as they are apt to precipitate. Fresh
preparations only, diluted when administered, are reliable.
Specific Symptomatology—The agent relieves the pain of cancers and
ulcers. In this it is of specific value. It is of much importance in
ulceration of the stomach either acute or chronic, and in incipient
gastric cancer. It will soothe the pain more efficiently than other
apparently more powerful agents. It must be given in large doses; as
much as fifteen minims of the fluid extract are sometimes needed. Large
doses must be carefully watched. It relieves distress in the glandular
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 148