178 STRTCHNOS NUX- VOMICA 



tetanic spasms. Strychnia has no direct influence on the heart, 

 the voluntary muscles, the cerebral centres, or motor nerves. 

 Thus, when given to man in sufficient doses, it causes twitching 

 and rigidity of the muscles, succeeded by tetanic spasms, but 

 without loss of consciousness ; and in the intervals between the 

 paroxysms the muscles become relaxed The fatal effects of 

 excessive doses of strychnia have been counteracted by chloroform, 

 chloral hydrate, calabar bean, conium, and monobromated camphor. 

 The experiments of Crum Brown, Frazer, and Schroff show that 

 the methyl and ethyl compounds of strychnia have an action 

 directly the reverse of that of strychnia itself, for instead of pro- 

 ducing tetanic spasms like it, they induce a condition of general 

 paralysis of the body by paralysing the extremities of the motor 

 nerves, like curare or conium. Nux vomica and strychnia possess 

 valuable nervine tonic and stimulant properties. They have been 

 found of especial value in the treatment of paralysis, but more espe- 

 cially in that form which results from lead poisoning ; also in neu- 

 ralgia, chorea, aphonia, impotence, constipation arising from torpor 

 of the colon, incontinence of urine, spermatorrhoea, debilitated 

 states of the system succeeding exhaustive illnesses, such as 

 rheumatic fever, in atonic diarrhoea and chronic dysentery, and in 

 prolapsus of the rectum, pyrosis, amaurosis, epilepsy, and other 

 affections. There is no doubt that the preparations of nux vomica 

 are especially valuable in the atonic complaints so common in 

 India and other hot countries. On account of their powerful 

 properties all the preparations of nux vomica should be used 

 cautiously, and their effects carefully watched. 



In consequence of the large importations of late years of nux 

 vomica, it was thought by many persons, that the seeds were 

 employed in the manufacture of bitter ale on account of their 

 intense bitterness, but although this has been disproved, it is still 

 unknown for what purposes they are so largely required, their 

 consumption in medicine being comparatively limited. A large 

 quantity of both nux vomica and strychnia are, however, employed 

 bv gamekeepers, &c., to destroy vermin, &c. Both nux vomica and 

 strychnia are also used to some extent in veterinary practice. 



