Fatal Period.—Death has occurred in twenty minutes after three and a half grains by hypodermic injection.
Chemical Analysis.—The alkaloid may be separated from the stomach contents or viscera by the usual procedure for extraction of alkaloids.
1. On the addition of strong nitric acid and evaporating to dryness, the residue when treated with alcoholic solution of potash gives off an odour like peppermint or meadow-sweet.
2. Goeldner‘s Test.—Strong sulphuric acid and resorcin when mixed with cocaine gives a blue colour, changing to rose-pink on addition of caustic potash. Goeldner considers this a reaction peculiar to cocaine.
3. Metzer‘s Test.—If a few drops of a 5 per cent. solution of chromic acid in water be added to a solution of cocaine hydrochloride, each drop gives a yellow precipitate which redissolves. The addition of strong hydrochloric acid produces a yellow precipitate of chromate of cocaine. Metzer considers this reaction peculiar to cocaine.
4. When applied to the tongue or lips a feeling of numbness is produced; it is rendered more effectual if a solution of sodium bicarbonate be first applied to the mucous membrane.
Treatment.—Wash out the stomach and encourage vomiting. Stimulants and ammonia should be given freely, and if convulsions occur chloroform should be inhaled. Tannic acid or gallic acid in thirty-grain doses have been recommended, also iodine one grain with potassium iodide ten grains, in a wine-glassful of water between the stomach-washing or emesis. Oxygen inhalations and artificial respiration may be resorted to in failure of the respiration.
COCCULUS INDICUS
The fruit of Cocculus Indicus, Anamirta paniculata (N.O. Menispermaceæ), is poisonous, and is frequently used by poachers to capture fish. The berries are ground to powder, mixed with bread, and then thrown into the water. When taken by the fish, they become stupefied, float to the surface, and are then taken.
The poisonous properties are due to a crystalline alkaloid, Picrotoxin. Fraudulent publicans have used this drug for the adulteration of beer. The strength of the beer is first reduced by the addition of salt and water, and then the cocculus indicus is added, to give to it an intoxicating property. The effect produced on the unfortunate customers is a strong desire to sleep, with more or less wakefulness. Loss of voluntary power is present, but consciousness is not lost, the sufferer lying in a state bordering on nightmare. Cocculus is not used in medicine or the arts, and yet a large quantity is imported, and mysteriously disappears in this country.