American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

of the heart. It dilates the pupils, except when the patient is passing into a
state of asphyxia, when contraction takes place. It does not affect the
irritability of the motor nerves, nor the peripheral sensory nerve ending.
It may cause heart failure or arrest of respiratory action. In some
susceptible patients small doses produce nausea, vomiting and
headache.
Dr. Harris of New York says the remedy increases dyspnea, which is
followed, from sufficient doses, by respiratory paralysis.
There is drowsiness, gradually increasing; muscular relaxation;
incoordination of movement; diminished reflexes; lowered sensibility;
dilatation of the pupils. Toxic doses produce convulsions and a tetanoid
condition caused by overstimulation of the spinal cord.
Piscidia stimulates salivary secretion, diaphoresis, and to a slight extent
diuresis.
It logically follows that its usefulness depends upon its action upon the
brain and spinal cord, for other remedies excel it in its effect upon the
heart, lungs and glands. Furthermore, it is well to consider that this
remedy has no direct effect upon the gastro-intestinal tract, and that it
therefore induces no nausea, no anorexia; that it does not suppress the
secretions; that it does not inhibit normal peristalsis; causes no
unpleasant after-effects and produces no subsequent craving for drugs. It
may therefore truly be called a harmless nerve sedative, indicated in the
three following conditions: (1) spasmodic affections; (2) neuralgic
affections; (3) cerebral excitation.
Administration—The agent must be given in sufficient doses and
repeated. It is not active in small doses. It lacks the power of opium, but
operates in the same lines as an analgesic, with desirable exceptions.
It is especially applicable in those cases where the patient cannot take
opium or morphine. It does not produce toxic or undesirable effects in
medicinal doses.
Specific Symptomatology—The agent, in doses of from a half drachm to a
drachm, will produce quiet and restful sleep, when the insomnia is due
to nervous excitement, mental worry or anxiety, and in elderly patients,
neurasthenics and children.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 351