386 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



depress the inferior cornua, but neither are of much valuy 

 in strychnine poisoning. 



Post Mortem Appearances. — These are simply those of 

 asphyxia, with the usual congestive lesions and dark fluid 

 blood, except that sometimes spinal hypersemia is ob- 

 served. 



Uses Interned. — The indications for the employment of 

 strychnine may be directly deduced from its physiological 

 actions. The indications are as follows : 



1. To stimulate the heart and respiration. 



2. To stimulate the spinal cord ; more particularly the 

 motor cells of the inferior cornua. 



3. To stimulate appetite, digestion, and intestinal peri- 

 stalsis in atonic conditions. 



1. Strychnine is the best remedy we can employ to 

 stimulate the heart, respiration and nervous system, and to 

 promote appetite and digestion in acute diseases. No better 

 drug can be used in the treatment of pneumonia and influ- 

 enza in horses. Strychnine should not be used continuously, 

 but only to bridge over a period of weakness or collapse. 

 It may be combined in the first stages of pneumonia with 

 nitrites, as spirit of nitrous ether, or nitroglycerii}. The 

 latter dilate arterioles, equalize the circulation by prevent- 

 ing venous stasis, and engorgement of the right heart; while 

 strychnine is preferable to digitalis as a heart stimulant, 

 because it does not so powerfully contract the arterioles. 

 Strychnine is useful in influenza by counteracting nervous 

 depression and improving the appetite and digestion. In 

 collapse and shock, following surgical operations, or in ether 

 and chloroform poisoning, strychnine is invaluable as a 

 cardiac and respiratory stimulant, given in large doses 

 subcutaneously. In chronic heart disease, strychnine is a 

 useful remedy. The alkaloid has proved extremely service- 

 able in chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and in that combi- 

 nation of these disorders, often associated with asthma and 

 known as "broken wind" or "heaves," in horses. 



The beneficial effect in these diseases is explained by 



