Atropinum

A tr opine . C-^^ H^ 3 -^^ 3 •

Discovered in 1833 as being the alkaloid in the berries, leaves and root of Atropa Belladonna ; it was at first used in the homoeopathic school by such as wanted something stronger, and proved years after. As it is, we have to regard all the symptoms, provings, poisonings and cures, as very uncertain. See Fehling's Dictionary, Vol. I, 1871, p 902.

The only trust- worthy preparation is the Atropinum sulphuricum. This may have been the drug used in many cases, in which it was not considered worth while to add the name of the mineral acid.

^ Seusorium. Vertigo on rising in the morning.

Furious delirium at night. ^ Inner Head. Fine drawing, very sensitive stitches across fore- head and temples, recurring every few minutes, lasting some seconds. I Dull pain in temples, at intervals, and transitory. I Very sensible sticking in 1. temporal region on waking in morning, extending into ear and eye ; > moving in open air. Sensation as if head was screwed up ; <C walking ; ■< towards 11 A.M.; >■ towards evening.

■ Sticking pains in back of skull, and over eyes : <C from every

motion and on stepping.

■ Severe headache, beginning in occiput, passing over r. side,

locating over eyes and in the balls, followed by an epileptic

attack, with unconsciousness. Headache, with flushing of face and head, with rush of blood

> to the head. Periodical headache, coming on suddenly, increasing rapidly,

until intensely severe, making blind and delirious.

■ Headache of epileptics.

Sudden pain soon making her blind and delirious, lasting three hours ; no nausea and vomiting ; no flushing of face ; pain deep in brain ; dreads attacks.

Slender married woman, set. 32, nervous temperament ; head- ache once a month, not with catamenia. " Sight and Eyes. ■Sharp neuralgic pains in and about eyes.

Eyelids felt heavy and difficult to keep open.

Sharp pain under right eye, with slight pain in temples.

Neuralgic pains, commencing under left orbit, and running back to ear, lasting perhaps ten minutes at a time, and then disappearing for fifteen or twenty.

ATROPINUM. 248

I Opaqueness; violent pain; dacryorrhoea ; photophobia;

swelling of lids. 0 Keratitis. Dimness of vision, with dilated pupils. I A bad incised wound of cornea, with protruding iris. 6 Atrop.

externally and Arnie. internally ; cured in seven days. iBlepharospasmus and irritability of eye; Hwith corneal

ulcers. I Conjunctivitis, with lachrymation. Erysipelatous inflammation of the conjunctiva and lids. Amblyopia ; diplopia, and chromopsia. Iritis, if exudation has taken place, and the inflammation is

violent, to prevent adhesion. Used for the purpose of lessening the intra-ocular blood pres- sure in inflammatory diseases of the internal structures of the eyeball, and also in inflammations of the cornea and even conjunctiva. ^^ Inner Mouth, Mouth and throat dry. ^^ Palate and Throat. Dark, red, dusky hues of throat.

Difficult swallowing from great dryness. ^^ Scrobiculum and Stomach. In aff"ections of diaphragm Atrop.

stands between Bellad. and Stramon. ^' Abdomen. I Frenzy, with distressing abdominal pain, occasion- ally leaves her ; pulse quick ; tongue dry ; skin hot, but sweating, d Peritonitis. ^° Rectum and Stool. ■ Catarrhal dysentery. ^' Urinary Organs. Congestive states of kidneys and liver, with disturbance of r. heart ; neuralgia of head ; nausea and vomiting ; soporous condition, d Bright's disease. ^^ Female Sexual Organs. Ovarian neuralgia, with headache,

or epilepsy. ^* Pregnancy. I Puerperal convulsions. ^ Albumenuria. ^^ Neck and Back. I Locomotor ataxia.

^* Limbs in General. iFrom sleeping in a damp bed, acute rheumatism ; pain in all his limbs, which are swollen and red ; no sleep ; general feverish and profuse sweat. '^ Rest. Position. Motion. Moving : sticking in 1. temple better. Stepping : sticking in back of skull worse. Walking : sensation as if head were screwed up worse. 3® Nerves. Muscular spasms in different parts of the body.

I Tetanus. *^ Time. Morning : vertigo on rising ; sticking in 1. temple on awaking. Sensation as if head were screwed up, worse 11 A.M. ; better

towards evening. Night : furious delirium. ^^ Temperature and Weather. Open air : sticking in temple better.

249 ■ ATROPINUM AND ATROP. SULPH.

*^ Locality and Direction. Hight : occipital headache passes to side ; pain under eye ; disturbance of r. heart. Left: sticking in temple; neuralgic pains commence under or- bit and extend to ear. *^ Sensations. As if heart was screwed up. Stitches : across forehead and temples. Sticking pain : in 1. temporal region ; in back of skull ; over

Sharp pain : under r. eye. Neuralgic pains : in and about eyes ; under 1. orbit to ear ; in

temperaments. *^ Relationship. Very similar to Bellad.

When Bellad. fails, give Atrop., both affect right side most.

Opium, Physostigma.

In Opium poisoning, has been found useful when applied hypo- dermically.