The number of antagonists is immense. † We will not consider here the dynamic antagonism of antidotes to poisons, or the chemical errors that may find their way into some of the medical prescriptions in the form of incompatibles. It is only in its therapeutical bearing we solicit your attention to the subject,

It is physiologically demonstrated in that existing between jaborandi and belladonna. When the heart has been slowed or arrested by jaborandi, atropia will bring the rate of pulsation almost to its normal action; the reverse of this occurs, provided the amount of atropia previously applied has not been too great. Upon the sweat-glands the two drugs have also antagonistic powers, one being able to annul the action of the other. ‡ The same is true in regard to the salivary secretions, § and the intestines and pupils. || In belladonna poisoning, the alkaloid has been used with no advantage in very small doses; but in a case in which 9-10 of a grain of atropia had been taken, 9 grains of pilocarpine are said to have been injected hypo-dermically in between one and two hours with success. ¶

The antagonism between chloral and strychnine is also one of great energy, as their effects have been observed on animals. The intercurrent administration of strychnia and chloral to an animal, of a large and even dangerous dose of chloral, a dose of strychnia five or six times the ordinary medium dose, may be safely administered, and even a dose of either drug which is fatal to the same species and size of animal, is not usually followed by death.**

Physostigma is likewise antagonistic to strychnia, - as an agent that powerfully diminishes the reflex activity of the spinal cord, it has been used with success in a case of traumatic tetanus. ††

The antagonism between morphia and atropia mainly affects the cerebrum, the latter destroying the unpleasant effects of the former. The combination of the two make an excellent remedy for the treatment of pain - hypodermically, in neuralgia and other painful affections, - in suppositories, in cases of diseases of the bladder or generative organs. On the eye the two agents in question are mutually antagonistic, but atropia continue's to act for a much longer time than morphia. Atropia does not constipate, and may even relax the bowels; morphia has a reverse tendency. As regards toxic effects upon the cerebral organs, the two agents are materially antidotal, but this antagonism does not prevail throughout the whole range of their influence, so that, in some respects, they do not counteract one another, while, as concerns one organ, the bladder, both seem to affect it in a similar way.*

*Dr. G. P. Hachenberg, on Prophylactic Medication. Detroit Lancet, 1882.

†Prof. Adolph Gubler.

§Langley.

¶Prof. H. C. Wood.

††Dr. Even Watson.

‡Lvuchsinger. ||H. Larvand. **Prof. R. T. Edes.

The toxic application of calcium chloride on the detached ventricle of the frog's heart can be quite antagonized by a toxic dose of potassium chloride, and vice versa, a toxic dose of potassium chloride, sufficient not only to arrest the spontaneous beats, but sufficient to prevent a strong induction shock exciting any contraction, can be antagonized entirely by a toxic dose of calcium chloride, and by the careful appointment of the two salts their antagonism be so nicely balanced that the ventricle will beat spontaneously and quite naturally. A toxic dose of potassium chloride will antagonize a toxic dose of veratria, and vice versa, a toxic dose of veratia will antagonize a toxic dose of potassium chloride, and these two substances may be given with such equipoise as completely to antagonize each other, so that the ventricle will beat quite naturally and spontaneously; but if one salt were administered singly it would powerfully affect the function of the ventricle to an extent incompatible with life.†

Therapeutically, the most interesting part of this subject is to secure an independent action in the conbination of two antagonistics. This is manifested in some of the salts, and many prescriptions are based on this principle, as morphine combined with atrophine, quinine with hydrobromic acid, and chloral with opium, etc. Such combinations are to give either intensity or moderation to the remedy.

The following table shows the most important examples of antagonism of drugs:

Aconitine

Alcohol

Ammonium chloride Atrophine

Barium

Bromal hydrate Brucine Calabarine Carbolic acid Chloral

Atropine.

Digitalin.

Strychnine.

Strychnine.

Chloral-hydrate.

Aconitine.

Brotnal-hydrate.

Chloral-hydrate.

Hydrocyanic acid

Jaborandi.

Muscarine.

Morphine.

Physostigmine.

Phytolacca.

Pilocarpine.

Quinine.

Sodium, sulphate of.

Potassium salts.

Atropine.

Chloral-hydrate.

Chloral-hydrate.

Chloral-hydrate.

Ammonium chloride.

Atropine.

Brucine.

Calabarine.

Carbolic acid.

Codeine.

Physostigma.

Picrotoxine.

*S. Weir Mitchell

†Sidney Ringer.

Chloral

Chloroform Cocaine Codeine Digitalin

Gelsemium

Morphine

Muscarine Opium

Physostigma

Saponin

Strychnine

Thebaine

Strychnine. Thebaine. Amyl nitrite. Morphine. Chloral. Aconitine. Muscarine. Saponin. Opium. Atropine. Atropine. Caffeine. Chloroform. Cocaine. Daturine. Hyoscyamine. Nicotine. Physostigma. Atropine. Atropine. Gelsemium. Veratrum viride. Atropine. Chloral. Morphine. Digitalin. Alcohol. Chloral.

Hydrocyanic acid. Nicotine. Nitrite of amyl. Chloral.

There may also be an antagonism between diseases, one destroying the force of another. This is not only the case in the effects of counter-irritants, or any other medical disease enforced as a remedial agent; but it may exist between two violent constitutional diseases, evidently caused by the antagonism of two sorts of micro-organism. Thus the inoculation of an erysipelatous virus in the submaxillary region of the diphtheritic patient, has resulted in a prompt cure of the sufferer. ‡ There is, evidently a great field for experimentation in this direction, before us; Koch himself already taking the lead.

The economy itself may reveal antagonism between two organs under the action of medicine. There certainly is a very marked antagonism between the bowels and the kidneys; so that free catharsis reduces, very decidedly, the secretions of the urine. There is also an antagonistic relation between the skin and the kidneys, so that an increase in the excretion from one of these, generally results in a diminution of that of the other emunctory.§

Mode Of Administering Medicines

Medicines may be administered by the mouth, by the rectum, hypodermically, by inhalation, by inunction, by medicated baths, and as remedial agents we may add: electricity, massage, and a special adaptation of diet, climate, recreation, rest, exercise, and labor, and we may class as important among the latter, salutary mental influences.

‡Babtchisky §Prof. H. C. Wood.