What to do in Cases of Poisoning 257 



tinned for several months without using suitable 

 medicaments to ehminate it from the system. 



Strychnine 



This is one of the most deadly drugs known, and 

 is only administered to dogs in the most infini- 

 tesimal doses, either as tincture of nux vomica or 

 in solution of liquor strychnine. When given with 

 malicious intent either the crystals will be used, or 

 else the powder (nux vomica) from which the strych- 

 nine has been derived, as the latter is one of the two 

 active principles obtained from the nux vomica 

 plant. The symptoms of strychnine poisoning are 

 very characteristic, the animal being affected with 

 violent muscular spasms (convulsions) most painful 

 to witness. These continue for a variable time, 

 from a few minutes to several hours, but as a rule 

 prove rapidly fatal, so that there is very little time 

 for the adoption of any treatment, and even when 

 such can be carried out is rarely successful. 



What to do. — What may be termed the orthodox 

 treatment in strychnine poisoning comprises the 

 administration of an emetic in order to produce 

 speedy emission, as the sooner the stomach empties 

 its contents the better. Various drugs may be used 

 for this purpose, but a domestic emetic comprises 

 two or three teaspoonfuls of mustard and salt given 

 in a half -pint of warm water. Twenty to forty 



