(Yellow Jasmine.)

Origin. - The dried rhizome and roots of Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) Pers., a plant indigenous in the southern United States, growing in moist woods.

Description and Properties. - Cylindrical, long or cut in sections about I inch (25 Mm.) in length, externally light-yellowish brown, with purplish-brown longitudinal lines; tough, fracture splintery; bark thin, with silky bast-fibers closely adhering to the pale-yellowish, porous wood, which has five medullary rays, and in the rhizome a thin pith; odor aromatic, heavy; taste bitter.

It contains two alkaloids, gelsemine, with an action on frogs resembling strychnine, and gelseminine, which acts more like coniine. The general effects are therefore blended, but gelseminine is the more potent alkaloid, for man at least.

Dose. - 2-10 grains (0.13-0.6 Gm.) [1 grain (0.065 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparations

Fluidextractum Gelsemii - Fluidextracti Gelsemii - Fluidextract of Gelsemium. - Dose, 2-10 minims (0.12-0.6 Cc.) [1 minim (0.05 Cc), U. S. P.].

Tinctura Gelsemii - Tincturae Gelsemii - Tincture of Gelsemium. - Dose, 15-60 minims (1.0-4.0 Cc.) [8 minims (0.5 Cc), U. S. P.].

Gelsemina (unofficial) - Gelseminae - Gelsemine. - Description and Properties. - A brittle, solid, transparent, crystallizable mass, converted into a colorless liquid at 450 C. (113o F.). Insoluble in cold water, but soluble to a slight extent in hot water, as well as in alcohol; taste bitter.

Dose. - 1/200-1/40 grain (0.0003-0.001 Gm.).

Antagonists and Incompatibles. - The cardiac and diffusible stimulants are antagonistic; tannic acid and caustic alkalies are incompatible, precipitating the alkaloid.

Synergists. - The motor depressants.

Physiological Action. - The action of gelsemium throughout resembles that of conium and curare very closely. There are certain points of difference, however, that render this drug much more valuable therapeutically than either of the others.

On the cerebrum, gelsemium shows a more pronounced depressing action, causing drowsiness and depression. As this is often a late symptom with large doses it may be due to beginning asphyxiation.

Gelsemium depresses the respiratory center more than does curare. It also has a classical peripheral action.

Gelsemium has a distinct action on sensory nerves. It is, therefore, useful in painful affections.

The heart action under medicinal doses of gelsemium is more apt to be slowed than quickened, as with the more powerful curare. This would seem to indicate less depression of the vagus. It has a pronounced effect on the sympathetic ganglia and is useful therapeutically in reducing blood-pressure.

Absorption and Elimination. - Gelsemium is speedily absorbed and readily excreted, chiefly by means of the kidneys. Untoward symptoms produced by immoderate amounts of the drug practically subside within three hours after ingestion.

Poisoning. - In toxic doses gelsemium is quickly fatal. The early symptoms include drooping of the eyelids, wide dilatation and immobility of the pupils, extreme muscular weakness, affecting first the muscles of the upper extremities, and incoordination of movements. Diplopia and dimness of vision may ensue, accompanied by difficulty of speech, coldness of the body surface, and general cutaneous anesthesia, with decidedly lower temperature. Meanwhile, there is marked diminution in the force of the heart and respiratory paralysis. Death has resulted from a teaspoonful of the fluid extract. 1/6 gr. of gelseminine is given as a minimum lethal dose.

While the patient may be drowsy, the mind is unaffected until carbonic-acid narcosis supervenes. Death is usually the result of respiratory failure, due to paralysis of the muscles of respiration. Paralysis of the heart also occurs.

Treatment of Poisoning. -The evacuation of the stomach is of the first importance, either by the stomach-pump or by the use of emetics. Washing out with a solution of tannic acid is probably the best method to pursue. External heat should be applied and diffusible stimulants administered, followed by digitalis and strychnine. The hypodermic injection of morphine and atropine is highly recommended in gelsemium-poisoning. Artificial respiration is imperative.

Therapeutics. - Externally and Locally. - The drug is seldom used externally, although it has been employed by ophthalmologists as a mydriatic.

Internally. - Clinically, gelsemium is now considered less valuable than formerly. It has been favorably mentioned by certain authors in the treatment of tetanus, mania with motor excitement, and paralysis agitans.

The drug appears to be more serviceable in trifacial neuralgia, and it seems to be even more efficient in neuralgia with involvement of the inferior dental nerve. In these disorders, as in ovarian neuralgia, dysmenorrhea, etc., for which it has been employed with some success, the drug should be pushed to its physiological limit.

Bartholow praised the action of gelsemium in cerebrospinal meningitis and "acute inflammations of the lungs and pleura"

Bulkley is responsible for its use in pruritus and eczema, the itching of which it certainly appears to alleviate.

Contraindications. - Diseases accompanied by exhaustion and great muscular weakness.

Administration. - Any of the preparations may be given, the initial dose being small, and the amount increased gradually until dilatation of the pupil or drooping of the eyelids is manifest.