American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

Extractum Aconiti Radicis Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Aconite Root.
Dose, one minim.
Tinctura Aconiti Radicis, Tincture of Aconite Root. Dose, from one
to ten minims.
Specific Medicine Aconite. Dose, from one-twentieth to one-half
minim.
Aconitine Crystalline. Dose, one five hundredth of a grain.
Aconitine Amorphous. Dose, one one-hundred and thirty-fourth of a
grain.
Physiological Action—In a moderate dose of five minims of the tincture, a
sense of numbness and tingling is felt in the tongue and lips, with
muscular weakness and depression; by doubling the dose these
symptoms are intensified and prolonged, the pulse falls and the
breathing is slowed. A poisonous dose causes tingling in the skin, pain
in the joints, vertigo, dimness of vision, extreme debility, pulse forty to
fifty per minute and irregular, skin cool and moist, burning heat in the
esophagus and stomach, nausea, vomiting and purging. There may be
severe gastric and intestinal spasms, headache, complete loss of sight,
hearing and speech, while consciousness remains; pupils dilated.
muscles tremulous or convulsed, pulse imperceptible; death by syncope.
Aconite acts on the vaso-motor nervous system. It is a powerful depressant
of the heart, and if given in sufficient quantity will paralyze that organ. Its
apparent influence is upon the terminal filaments of the sensory nerves
first, and afterwards, more slowly, upon the nerve trunks. It depresses the
nerve centers of the cord, and destroys reflex activity and voluntary
power.
A drop of a solution of aconite in the eye causes the pupil to contract.
Larger amounts induce toxic symptoms, the principal of which are
increase of tingling and numbness, excessive perspiration, rapidly
lowering temperature, pupillary dilation, dimness of sight, loss of hearing
and sense of touch, and diminished action of the sensory filaments
supplying the skin.
Muscular weakness is marked; trembling and occasional convulsions
may ensue. Excessive depression comes on, and the power of standing is
early lost. The feet and legs become. cold, the face pale, and the patient
has a tendency to faint. There may be violent burning in the stomach
with great thirst and dyspagia, and vomiting and diarrhea may occur. The
pulse is weak, rapid, and almost imperceptible; acute, lancinating pain
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 5