Belladonna owes its activity to the presence of atropin. No drug used in medicine has a more pronounced physiological action. From its local application there results anesthesia, because of a paralysis of the sensory nerve endings. The super-ficial blood vessels are dilated and when applied to the eye, or taken internally, dilatation of the pupil results from paralysis of the oculomotor endings. The intraocular tension is increased and the power of accommodation lost.

Following poisonous doses there is a psychic stimulation of the cerebrum. The individual becomes talkative, and manifests his reaction to the poison by laughter and hallucinations terminating in delirium and mania. After a time, depression of the cerebral hemispheres sets in, as shown by drowsiness, coma and convulsions.

Belladonna, but especially atropin, in therapeutic doses, strongly stimulates the respiratory centre. In fatal cases of poisoning death is due to paralysis of this centre. Belladonna stimulates the spinal cord, the effects being like those caused by strychnin, but they are not so pronounced and only occur late, in poisoning.

Belladonna diminishes the secretion of saliva, sweat, mucus and gastric juice. All of these effects are due to paralysis of the nerve endings in the glands. Therapeutic doses check, or abolish the normal peristaltic movement of the intestines. Belladonna produces paralysis of the vagus endings and the heart beat becomes faster and stronger. The dilatation of the peripheral vessels causes a decided flushing of the skin. In cases of poisoning the temperature has risen several degrees.

Among the more prominent symptoms, aside from those already mentioned, produced in man by physiological doses of Belladonna, are: dryness of the throat, difficulty in swallowing, thirst, these being due to the lessened secretion of mucus. The skin is dry, red and hot, the power of contraction of the bladder, ureters, uterus, spleen and esophagus is decreased, from depression of the motor nerve endings.

Therapeutics

Belladonna: In this remedy we have as a great characteristic, the throbbing, burning and pulsating nature of its pains, together with great violence and suddenness of the appearance and disappearance of symptoms. In any disease requiring Belladonna, a flushed red face will be found, with rather large pupils and a full, round, bounding pulse. Cerebral congestion is, therefore, marked in this drug and this is substantiated by the character of its delirium, which is noisy and combative in character - patients bite and kick, scream and attempt to escape.

The well known dryness of the throat which this drug produces, serves as an important indication for it in the treatment of tonsilitis or of any active inflammatory throat condition. A constant inclination to swallow, with a sensation as though swallowing over a lump and the occurrence of pharyngeal spasm, are further indications. The tongue is swollen and has the typical strawberry appearance so often found in scarlet fever, for which disease Belladonna is most often indicated when, with the characteristics already mentioned, we find a smooth redness of the skin. The headaches of this remedy are congestive in type, throbbing, pulsating with hot red face and dilated pupils; the pains are worse from any motion, from jarring or stepping; and this indication will be found in almost any condition for which the drug is useful.

Belladonna is believed to possess the power of prophylaxis in scarlet fever and its efficacy in this respect has been attested to by many physicians. In most diseases Belladonna is right-sided, which is to say that the right side will be first or more often affected, where this remedy is required.

Belladonna complaints are apt to be made worse by the heat of the sun, hence it is a very useful remedy in the treatment of sunstroke. In local inflammatory conditions, such as threatened abscess formation, boils, mastitis, etc., the inflamed part will be bright red, hot and exceedingly painful. In any acute disease where this remedy is needed, a hot head and cold extremities are certain indications. In croup, a red, hot face, widely dilated pupils and a deep barking cough will be found.

Hemorrhages, when they take place in Belladonna, are of hot, red blood, gushing in character. In menorrhagia this state is likely to be present and especially so in women who are plethoric and whose menses are habitually early. Locally, the parts feel hot and dry.

Any abdominal inflammation, violent, sudden and active in character, such as pelvic peritonitis or appendicitis in their early stages before pus has formed, may require Belladonna and will be much helped when the typical characteristics above noted, are present.

Many of the complaints in which this drug is useful are aggravated in the afternoon, about three o'clock. Belladonna is useful in the ill effects of checked perspiration or of sudden cold, likewise from drafts. In acute rheumatic fever it will be found valuable when the case is active, sthenic in character and where the inflamed joints are of smooth shiny redness, extremely sensitive to the slightest touch, motion or jar, together with high temperature, full bounding pulse, dilated pupils and red face.

Characteristic Symptoms Of Belladonna

1. Fear of imaginary things, wants to run away from them.

2. Vertigo when stooping, or when rising after stooping, falling to the left or backwards, with vanishing of sight and flickering before the eyes.

3. Intense throbbing headache; worse from noise, light or jarring, and from leaning forward; better when bending backward.

4. Face glowing red, hot and swollen.

5. Tonsilitis, worse on right side, parts bright red, worse on swallowing liquids. Sensation of a lump in throat.

6. Pharyngitis, and other throat affections, characterized by intense hyperemia and dryness of the parts, and tendency to spasmodic contraction.

7. Pains, particularly in the abdomen and pelvis, come on suddenly, continue violently a longer or shorter time, and disappear as suddenly as they came.

8. Tenderness of the abdomen is aggravated by the least jar of the bed or the chair on which she sits. She is obliged, in walking, to step with great care, for fear of jar. 9. Peritonitis and other inflammations of the abdominal viscera, charactorized by great distention and sensitiveness to touch and motion; extreme pungent heat and violent pain.

10. Menorrhagia or metrorrhagia: blood brigh red; in plethoric subjects.

11. Dry cough from tickling in the larynx, usually worse in the evening after going to bed.

12. Pulse accelerated, full and bounding, violent throbbing of the carotid and temporal arteries.

13. Wants to sleep but cannot.

14. Takes cold in every draft of air, especially when uncovering the head; complaints from having the hair cut.

15. Usually worse after 3 P. M., and again after midnight.