The solution usually employed for this purpose is two grains of the sulphate of atropine to an ounce of distilled water, the dose of which ranges from one to five minims.

There are two forms of neuralgia in which the subcutaneous use of atropine has been most signally useful: tic-douloureux and sciatica, more especially the latter. Atropine is not as effective in the treatment of the neuralgias in general as morphine, and the systemic effects of the former are much more unpleasant than those caused by the latter. Nevertheless, when morphine fails or disagrees with the patient.

Atropine may be used with confident expectation of its affording relief. We owe to Hunter our knowledge of the fact that atropine has a very special utility in tic-douloureux and sciatica. The merely subcutaneous injection of atropine does not afford the same degree of relief as its deep injection in the neighborhood of the affected nerve-trunk. Furthermore, a decided impression must be made on the cerebrum, in order to obtain the best results. The largest doses compatible with the safety of the patient must be used—generally the one fiftieth of a grain to the one thirtieth. If the remedy is employed in sufficient quantity, and well inserted into the tissues above the nerve, decided curative results may be expected from it in these two forms of neuralgia. When relief follows the injection of atropine, it is apt to be more permanent than when the same degree of relief is obtained from morphine. We have the high authority of Dr. Anstie for the assertion that atropine is exceptionally serviceable in peri-uterine and dysmenorrhoeal neuralgia. Dr. Weir Mitchell asserts that atropine in traumatic neuralgias is "simply useless," and, as his power of accurate observation is unquestioned, and his clinical opportunities vast, we may accept this conclusion as final.

Muscular cramp, from injuries to the nerve-trunk, are often remarkably relieved by injections of atropine into the substance of the affected muscles. The so-called "late rigidity," as the result of which the members may be put into very injurious positions, is occasionally removed or diminished by the same expedient—viz., injecting a small quantity of atropine (1/125 of a grain) into the contracted muscles. This result does not ameliorate the condition of the patient to any greater extent than that of affording relief to an inconvenient deformity.

The insomnia of mental disorders, and of delirium tremens, may be overcome by the hypodermatic injection of atropine when the following indications for its use are present: Coma vigil, great restlessness, weak action of the heart, coldness of the surface, cyanosis, clammy sweat. When there is a condition of hyperaemia of the cerebro-spinal centers, excitement with elevated pulse-rate and increase of arterial tension, atropine can only do harm.

The treatment of asthma by belladonna, administered by the stomach and in the form of fumigation, has already been referred to. The hypodermatic injection of atropine is much more effective. From 1/120 to 1/60 of a grain may be used for this purpose; but, as the relief comes from the systemic effect, it is not necessary to inject the solution in the neighborhood of the pneumogastric, as practiced by Courty. In order to procure the greatest relief, the injection should be made at the beginning of the asthmatic paroxysm, and succeeding attacks should be anticipated by inducing atropinism at the first warning of a seizure.

Vomiting of pregnancy, when obstinate and resisting other means, is sometimes arrested promptly and permanently by the subcutaneous injection of atropine in small quantity (1/120 of a grain). Sea-sickness is relieved in the same way. In these maladies, it is better to insert the injection in the epigastrium.

Cramp of the hollow muscular organs hepatic, intestinal, uterine, and renal colic—may all be relieved by the subcutaneous injection of atropine, but the most satisfactory results are produced by the combined use of atropine and morphine.