Notes on the alkaloid atisine

Atisine, C₂2 H₃₁ N O₂, (Alder Wright) or C₄₆ H₇₄ N₂ O₅ (Broughton). (See Sohn., p. 4,) and Aconitic acid, C₆ H₆ O₆.

In Dymock’s Mat. Medica. of W. I, (2nd edition, p. 7), it is said:—

“The English notices of this are to be found in Hindu works on Materia Medica, Sharangdhar and Chakradatt, where it is recommended as a remedy in fevers, diarrhoea, dyspepsia and cough, also as an alexipharmic.”

“The author of the Makhzan-ul-Adwiya says it is aphrodisiacal and tonic, checks diarrhoea and removes corrupt bile.”

Up to very recently, English physicians in India administered it as an antiperiodic in doses of about 30 grains, every 6 or 4 hours. Dr. M. Sheriff considers that the ordinary doses are only useful as a tonic, and that 2 dram’s or more should be given as an antiperiodic. Probably, says Dr. Dymock, the native estimate of the drug, as given above from the Makhzan, is not far from truth, viz., that it is tonic and digestive and often useful in dyspepsia with diarrhoea (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. I., p. 16, 1890, Bombay). Dr. Tribhuvandas. M. Shah of Junagadh says it is anthelmintic and antifebrile, in doses of 10-30 grains. It can be given to children in fevers.

The alkaloid Atisine of Broughton, from experiments made on rabbits, appears to be non-poisonous. (Dymock). Dr. Dymock says that Atis is an ingredient in Bal-Goli, a pill given to infants to keep them quiet, which contains thirty-one drugs, of which three are narcotics, viz., Bhang, opium and Datura, and the remainder bitters, aromatics. (Ph. Indica, p. 15, Vol. I.)