This is a new alkaloid obtained from the mother-liquor, as already shown, and which has been produced synthetically by Ladenburg. It forms a crystalline combination with hydriodic acid, and an amorphous salt with hydrochloric. These salts dissolve freely in water. The solution employed by Edfelsen for administration by the stomach contained about 1/70 gr. to the table spoonful, and for subcutaneous injection, 1/100 gr. to one minim. These are suitable doses for administration.

The physiological effects of hyoscine have been studied by Laden-burg, the discoverer; by Edfelsen, and others. Generally speaking, the effects of this agent correspond quite closely to those of atropine, but in corresponding doses the latter is more powerful. When administered subcutaneously, hyoscine acts in two to twelve minutes; by the stomach in about fifteen minutes. It causes more drowsiness and sopor, and less delirium than atropine, but like the latter dilates the pupil, increases the rate of the cardiac and respiratory movements, and reddens the skin. According to Gnauck, the pulse is first slowed eight to twenty beats per minute, and after ten to twenty minutes rises. The same phenomenon is observed from atropine in some subjects, but is not so pronounced. Dilatation of the pupil does not always occur after the stomachal administration. Sleep comes on in twenty to thirty minutes, preceded by a feeling of lassitude, and is deep and quiet, but is followed by headache and vertigo. As a cerebral sedative, Bruce assigns it to a high place, but a period of excitement prefaces the decline of action, and hence a true statement of its powers can be made when both stages of its action are duly accounted for.

Instilled into the eye, hyoscine is a more energetic mydriatic than atropine, dose for dose (Emmert). One part of the hydriodate to one thousand of water is the solution used by Emmert, and this he finds more active than a half-per-cent solution of atropine.

Hyoscine has been employed in various diseases requiring a soporific and anodyne agent. In general, it can be used in the same cases as atropine, but, as it possesses more decided antispasmodic effects, it may prove more valuable. By Ladenburg it has been used successfully in whooping-cough, in asthma, and in enteralgia. Half the cases of whooping-cough were relieved, and all of the cases of asthma were more or less benefited, some decidedly so.

In ophthalmic practice, hyoscine can be substituted for atropine. It causes more prompt and decided, but less persistent, dilatation of the pupil, and it is less poisonous (Emmert). It is applicable to the same purposes in eye-diseases as those in which atropine is now employed.

Authorities referred to:

Bucknill and Tuke. Manual of Psychological Medicine, London, 1874, p. 727.

Campbell, Dr. Journal of Mental Science, No. lxxx, 1871.

Edfelsen und Illing. Ueber die therapeutische Verwendung des Hyoscinum hydrochlo. ricum und hydriodicum. Centralblatt f. d. med. Wissensch., No. 23, 1881.

Emmert, Dr. Correspondenz-Blatt, January 15, 1882; by London Medical Record, February, 1882.

Empis, Dr. Hyoscyamine, accidents causes par son emploi. Bull. Gén. de Thérap., Juin 15, 1881.

Fronmuller, Dr. Klinische Studien über die schlafmachende Wirkung der narhotischen Arzneimittel, Erlangen, 1875, p. 70.

Gnauck, Dr. A. Ueber die Wirkungen des Hyoscine. Centralblatt für die med. Wissensch.. No. 45, 1881.

Husemann, Dr. Theodor. Handbuch der gesammten Arzneimittellehre, zweiter Band, p. 1115, et seq.

Ladenburg, Prof. Dr. Ibid. No. 23, 1881.

Laurent, M. le Dr. De I' Hyosciamine et de la Daturine. These.

Oulmont, M. le Dr. De l'Hyosciamine et de son Action dans les Névroses. Bulletin Général de Thérapeutique, vol. lxxxiii, p. 481.

Prideaux, E. The Action and Uses of Hyoscyamine. Lancet, 1879, September 27, October 4 and 11.

Reinhard, Dr. C. Archiv für Pschy. und Nervenkrankh., Baud xi, p. 121.