USE OF STRYCHNINE AS A CARDIAC STIMULANT. 561 



for a long time, by and by faint respiratory movements occur, 

 which very soon cease if the animal be left to itself. But 

 ScliifF has found that if artificial respiration be still kept up, 

 these movements become stronger and stronger, until at length 

 spontaneous respiration is sufficiently re-established to save 

 life. 



In Eokitansky's experiment, the ordinary channels for the 

 passage of stimuli from the medulla oblongata to the respiratory 

 and vaso-motor centres in the cord were at once destroyed; 

 but the application of strychnia before or after the section had 

 so greatly increased the activity of the centres in the spinal 

 cord that they were able to take up their functions at once, 

 instead of after a lapse of time, as in Schiff's experiment. It 

 seems to us, then, that the function performed by the venous 

 sinus in regard to the rhythmical movements of the frog's heart 

 is to a certain extent analogous to the functions of the medulla 

 oblongata in regard to respiration and vascular tension, and 

 that the action of heat and of strychnia upon the systems is 

 very similar indeed. The very marked action as a cardiac 

 stimulant which strychnia is shown by the experiment to 

 possess, is one the practical importance of which it is hardly 

 necessary to point out. We would merely remark, that in 

 cases of general debility and lack of tone, especially when 

 occurring in consequence of overwork, there is, perhaps, no 

 tonic in the pharmacopoeia to be compared to strychnia ; and 

 widely known though its utility may be, it is not nearly so 

 commonly employed as it deserves, especially at this season of 

 the year (July), when both medical men and their patients are 

 suffering from the consequences of prolonged overwork and 

 mental strain. Small doses of strychnia or nux vomica restore 

 both mental and physical power, and give a sense of well-being 

 in a manner in which, so far as our experience goes, nothing 

 else vvilL 



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