Glonoine.

The alcoholic solution of nitro-glycerine is the preparation used in medicine and is termed glonoine or spirit of glonoine. It is made by combining 1 part of nitro-glycerine with 99 parts of alcohol; this is the one per cent solution generally used. It should be handled with care, kept in a cool place and care taken that the alcohol will not evaporate as there is danger of explosion.

Physiological action: A few drops will often cause cerebral engorgement, face becomes very flushed, followed by severe headache. As it is a very powerful brain stimulant in moderate doses, causing cerebral hyperemia, fullness and a feeling of pressure and even pain in the head, it must be used with care. It will also stimulate the heart, produce nausea if a large dose is taken.

Use: In the 1% solution in moderate doses we get the physical effect. Therefore indicated where a powerful brain or heart stimulant is needed as in cerebral anemia that comes on suddenly, anemic headache, sunstroke, neuralgia of the heart, angina pectoris, asthma, post partum hemorrhages, palpitation of the heart, in fact any condition where there is marked anemic condition of the brain and a heart stimulant is needed temporarily. Small doses act better if it has to be persisted in for some time. In emergencies it is our best remedy if indicated. We also think of it in fainting spells, sluggish heart's action with pale appearance of the patient, skin perhaps cool. If we want its sedative or primary effect small doses of the 3rd to 6th dilution should be used. In these doses it will be found to be indicated where there is flushed appearance, determination of blood to the head and headache resulting from same. The general indications of glonoine in physical doses also apply to nitro-glycerine.

The Materia Medica and Clinical Therapeutics, 1905, was written by Fred J. Petersen, M.D.