atropine Chem. and Med.
(ˈætrəʊpaɪn)
Also atropin.
[f. atropa deadly nightshade, f. Gr. ἄτροπος ‘inflexible,’ name of one of the Fates.]
a. A poisonous alkaloid found in the Deadly Nightshade and the seeds of the Thorn-apple. atropia (əˈtrəʊpɪə), synonym of prec. atropic (əˈtrɒpɪk), a., of or pertaining to atropine, as in atropic acid. atropinism (ˈætrəʊpɪˌnɪz(ə)m) = atropism. ˈatropiˌnized, ppl. a., poisoned by atropine. atropism (ˈætrəʊpɪz(ə)m), poisoning by atropine.
| 1836 R. D. & T. Thomson Records of General Sci. IV. 149 *Atropin may be obtained in a crystalline state by dissolving it in the smallest possible quantity of boiling water. 1842 T. Graham Elem. Chem. iii. ix. §4. 982 Atropine, in all parts of Atropa Belladonna..possesses the power to dilate the pupil of the eye. 1877 H. E. H. King Discip., Ruffini (ed. 3) 19 The deadly drops of atropine Are mixed into the water and the wine. 1908 Practitioner Mar. 364 Atropin should be instilled into the eye to dilate the pupil. 1927 Haldane & Huxley Animal Biol. ix. 198 Stimulating substances, such as atropin, caffein, etc. |
| 1835 Penny Cycl. III. 50/1 *Atropia is insoluble in cold water. |
| 1863 Watts. Dict. Chem. I. 474 *Atropic acid..is said to resemble benzoic acid in form and volatility. |
| 1876 Bartholow Mat. Med. (1879) 311 The remarkable similarity in the symptoms of *atropinism and of scarlatina. |
| 1875 H. Wood Therap. 243 *Atropinized animals. |
b. attrib. and
Comb.| 1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. IX. 477, I prescribed atropine drops. 1920 Chambers's Jrnl. 11 Sept. 654/1 In England atropine-poisoning is mostly accidental. |