1890 Coca and its Therapeutic Application by Angelo Mariani

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Prof.Vulpian, at the outset, communicated to the Acad- emie desSciences the results of his interesting physiological researches with the chlorhydrate of Cocaine. M.Vulpian, after observing similar anaesthetic and anal gesic effects on the eye in animals as already shown in man,resulting from an instillation between the eyelids of a few drops of solution of hydrochlorate of Cocaine,and also perceiving under these conditions the mydriatic ac tion of the salt, noticed a protrusion of the ocular globe when he injected 0.10 centigramme of hydrochloride of Cocaine of a one to one hundred aqueous solution into the saphenous vein of a non-curarized dog, and that it oc curred almost immediately after throwing the liquid into the vessel. Instantly the eyelids were seen to separate and the pupillary orifice to enlarge. "This," says he,"is an effect which exactly recalls the results of faradization of the upper extremity of the cervical sympathetic nerve ci;t transversely." Complete anaesthesia of the two transparent corneae existed in this case. Prof. Grasset, of Montpelier,almost at the same time as Vulpian,observed the same effects of Cocaine,buta greater persistency in the phenomena of insensibility following the intravenous injection of the solution of hydrochloride of Cocaine. Ataboutthat time.Dr.Laborde,ofthe Academie de Mdde- cine,treated still more deeply of the action of Cocaine in three successive notes to the Socidte de Biologie(Nov.22d and 29th,and Dec.27th,1884). This learned physiologist studied the analgesic action generally resulting from sub cutaneous injections of 0.03 of hydrochloride of Cocaine, in three doses,in the guinea-pig. He saw it at the same time produce a general hyper-excitability which irresistibly forced the animal to move, and even produced epileptic convulsions; the general analgesic state lasted for more than forty-eight hours.

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