NUX VOMICA. 51 



is brought on. The sudden contact of external bodies also acts 

 like an electric shock on him. The further employment of 

 Nux Vomica increases the severity of the symptoms. The 

 paroxysms now occur without the agency of any evident 

 exciting causes, and affect him even when lying quiet in bed. 

 The muscular fibres of the pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, and 

 bladder become affected, as well as those of other organs, both 

 in the male and female. The pulse does not appear to be 

 uniformly affected ; for the most part, it is slightly increased 

 in frequency between the convulsive attacks; but Trousseau 

 says he has found it calm even when the dose of the medicine 

 was sufficient to cause muscular rigidity. Previous to the pro- 

 duction of the affections of the muscles, various painful sen- 

 sations are oftentimes experienced in the skin, which patients 

 have compared to the creeping of insects (formication), or to 

 the passage of an electric shock, and occasionally an eruption 

 makes its appearance." It is remarkable that in paralysis, the 

 effects of Nux Vomica are principally observed in the paralysed 

 parts. Dr. Marshall Hall ascribes this to the irritability being 

 greater in the inactive than in the active limb. Hence, though 

 the Strychnia acts equally through the true spinal system, it 

 produces the most marked effect upon the most irritable 

 muscles. Magendie (Formul., p. 7, eighth edit.) states he has 

 observed sweating confined to the paralysed parts. n I have 

 seen," says this physiologist, " the affected side covered with 

 an anomalous eruption, while the opposite side was free from 

 it. One side of the tongue is sometimes sensible to a very 

 bitter taste, which is not perceptible to the other side." 



Third degree : in poisonous doses, producing tetanus and 

 asphyxia. To illustrate this, Pereira mentions the case of a 



(London 



I). She swall 



four drachms of this substance in powder, and in half an hour 



was 



Mr 



collected and tranquil ; her pulse about eighty, and regular. 



