Therapeutics, materia medica and pharmacy : the special therapeutics of diseases and symptoms, the physiological and therapeutical actions of drugs, the modern materia medica, official and practical pharmacy, prescription writing, and antidotal and antagonistic treatment of poisoning / by Sam'l O.L. Potter.
- Potter, Samuel O. L. (Samuel Otway Lewis), 1846-1914.
- Date:
- [1931], ©1931
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Therapeutics, materia medica and pharmacy : the special therapeutics of diseases and symptoms, the physiological and therapeutical actions of drugs, the modern materia medica, official and practical pharmacy, prescription writing, and antidotal and antagonistic treatment of poisoning / by Sam'l O.L. Potter. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![*7 Belladonna. Atropine. Hyoscyamus. Stramonium. Muscarine. Agaracin. Salvia (Sage). Acids, locally. Pilocarpus. Pilocarpine. Nux Vomica. Strychnine. Ergot. Sulphuric Acid. Chloralformamide. Quinine (?). Piero toxin. Camphoric Acid. Opium (small doses). Zinc Salts. Local Cold. Strychnine, Atropine, Pilocarpine, Picrotoxin and Zinc Salts are all respiratory stimu¬ lants, and very efficient against the sweating of phthisis, though most of them are classed as diaphoretics. This is explained by the theory of accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood by depressed respiration caused by severe coughing, thus stimulating the sweat centers, and being opposed by agents which stimulate the respiratory center. Anodynes, see Analgesics. Antagonists are agents which directly oppose each other in some or all of their physiological actions, and may be used against each other to counter¬ act their effects upon the organism. Antagonistic action takes place in the blood and tissues, after the absorption of both the poison and the antagonist; it is available against poisons administered hypodermically as well as by other channels, and so far as drugs are concerned it is applicable chiefly to vegetable poisons. In most cases of poisoning by vegetable principles absorption has proceeded so far before professional assistance is obtained that the time for antidotes has passed, and reliance can be placed only upon the physiological antagonists and such antagonistic measures as may support vitality until the poison can be eliminated by the excretory organs of the body. There may be an exception to this rule in the case of Morphine, which, after making the round of the circulation, constantly returns in part to the stomach until finally eliminated, so that repeated washing of that organ with a solution of potassium permanganate, or the ingestion thereof from time to time, may have a continuous antidotal action on such portion of the poison as may have been absorbed. [Compare Antidotes.] Antagonistic Measures include all such procedures as may tend to antag¬ onize any remote effects of poisons, as artificial respiration, faradization of the respiratory muscles, constant motion or absolute repose, application of heat or cold, douching, etc. Thus, in the case of poisoning by Digitalis the antagonists which will counteract the effects of such portion of the drug which has been absorbed are the following: Aconite or Morphine against the cardiac action, the former for the effects of large doses, the latter for those of the long-continued use of the drug. Atropine may be used to check the excessive vagus action. Absolute Rest in the recumbent posture is an antagonistic measure of prime importance, by reason of the liability to sudden cessation of the lowered cardiac action on the assumption of the erect posture by the patient. In Part I of this book, under the several titles of the poisonous drugs, their most effi¬ cient Antidotes and Antagonists are not mentioned; but these are fully described and arranged in a form suitable for reference under the caption Poisoning in Part III. Physiological Antagonism means a balance of opposed actions on particular organs or tissues, excited by medicinal agents and measures or by disease. It may extend throughout the whole or the greater part of the range of action of](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31347836_0039.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
