Nicotinum

An alkaloid obtained from Nicotiana tabacum, Linn.

Formula, C 10 H 14 N 2 .

Preparation , Solutions in distilled water (or alcohol).

Authorities. 1 , Falk and Wachenfeld, De Nicotine, 1848 (from Husemann, Pflanzenstoffe), experiments on themselves and on others with 2 to 3 milligrams dissolved in water; 2 , Wertheim, Zeit. d. K. K. Ges. zu Wien, 1851, general effects; 3 , Schroff, provings on Dworzak and Heinreich with 0.001 to 0.002 gram, and even 4 or 5 milligrams, Lehrb. d.

Pharm.; 4 , Reil, Mat. Med. d. rein. Arzn., 1857, p. 235, effects of a solution of 1 drop in 100 drops of alcohol, doses increasing from 1 to 15 drops (the original provings in Journ. f. Pharm., 2, p. 195, not accessible).

Delirium, with frightful visions, [2] .

Inability to fix the attention upon any subject (second day), [3] . Inability to think or fix the thoughts, [4] .

Vertigo, [1] , [2] .

Peculiar vertigo, [4] . Headache, [1] , [4] .

Decided headache, [3] . Violent headache (second day), [3] .

A high degree of dulness of the head, heaviness, dizziness, and stupefaction, [3] . [10.]

Dulness and heaviness of the head, persistent, [3] .

Eye.

Sensation as though the eyelids were too heavy, [4] .

Indistinct vision, with great sensitiveness of the eye to light, [3] .

Weak vision, [4] .

EAR, NOSE, FACE, AND MOUTH. Indistinct hearing, with a sensation as though the ears were filled with cotton, [3] .

The expired air had the odor of alcohol, noticed not only by the provers themselves but by the bystanders, [3] . Face pale, features drawn, [3] . [20.] Sensation of an aura in the upper jaw, [3] .

Sharp burning sensation on the tongue, [3] .

Increased secretion of saliva, [3] .

Scraping-burning taste, especially low down in the throat, causing hiccough and hawking, [4] .

Throat And Stomach.

Dryness of the throat, [3] . Sensation of scraping in the throat, [3] .

Constant scraping in the throat, [2] .

Sensation as though a sharp brush had been drawn through the oesophagus to the stomach, [3] .

Sensation of dysphagia, [4] . Loss of appetite, [4] . [30.] Loss of appetite (second day), [3] .

Great aversion to tobacco-smoking ; one, a smoker, endeavored to mitigate his troubles by a pipe of tobacco, but was utterly unable to take more than a few whiffs; the other, not a smoker, became affected to an excessively disagreeable extent by going near any one smoking, [3] .

Nausea, [1] . Nausea, and inclination to vomit and actual vomiting, with some relief, [3] .

A disagreeable sensation extending from the stomach upward and downward, with eructations, [3] . Sensation of emptiness and faintness in the stomach and intestinal canal, persistent, [3] .

Abdomen And Rectum.

Abdomen distended, [3] . [40.]

Disagreeable sensation through the whole intestinal canal, [3] .

Excessive desire for stool, relieved by emission of flatus and urine, [3] .

Stool retarded, [4] .

Urgent desire to urinate; urine copious, [3] .

Secretion of urine decidedly increased, [3] .

RESPIRATORY ORGANS, CHEST, AND PULSE. Respiration rapid and difficult, [3] .

Very difficult respiration, [3] . Oppression of the chest, [1] .

Oppression of the chest, compelling deep respiration, [4] .

Oppression of the chest; sensation as though a foreign body were behind the sternum, [3] . [50.]

Pulse increased in frequency in direct proportion to the dose, [3] .

Pulse and respiration very irregular, sometimes becoming very rapid, sometimes sinking, [4] . Constant sinking of the pulse, [2] .

Extremities And Generalities. Formication, beginning in the tips of the fingers, extending to the wrists and afterwards to the elbows, [3] .

Weakness of the lower extremities, especially on going upstairs, [4] .

Peculiar clonic spasms that gradually increased for forty minutes; the extremities began to tremble; the trembling extended at last over the whole body, which became violently shaken; the respiratory muscles mostly affected; respiration difficult and impeded, every respiratory effort consisting of a series of short jerks in quick succession; expiration was accomplished in the same manner as inspiration, [3] .

Excessive weakness while walking, gait unsteady, [3] .

Trembling, [1] , [2] , [4] . Exhaustion, [2] .

Paroxysms of faintness, beginning with a vanishing of the senses and ending with loss of consciousness, [3] .

SKIN, SLEEP, AND FEVER. Skin dry, [3] .

Persistent sleepiness, [3] .

Sleepiness (second day), [3] . [70.]

Sleepiness, [1] , [3] . Night restless, sleepless, during which he was hot and excited, [3] .

Extremities icy cold, [3] . Coldness of the extremities, [3] .

Coldness beginning in the tips of the toes and fingers and extending towards the trunk, [3] . Shaking chill, [3] .

Sensation of warmth commencing in the stomach, rapidly extending over the chest and to the head, and like a steaming into the tips of the fingers and toes, not, however, followed by perspiration, [3] .

( Ascending stairs ), Weakness of lower extremities. ( Walking ), Excessive weakness.