6 BULLETIN 1023, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



view must be taken to eliminate the influence of occasional adverse 

 circumstances, such as food within the stomach ingested before the 

 poisoned bait is eaten. 



A large area of squamous mucosa occurs in the cardiac end of the 

 stomach of the rat as a continuation from the oesophagus. If this 

 has a favorable influence upon lowering the oral lethal dose it has not 

 yet been shown. Such an influence should be considered, because 

 much less strychnine is required to kill ground squirrels (Citellus 

 beechsyi) when taken into the cheek pouches on grain 4 than when 

 taken into the stomach either on grain or in solution. 



Death from strychnine is due to asphyxia, which is the result of 

 respiratory paralysis, the heart usually beating for some time after 

 the spasms have abated. If a lethal dose has been given to an adult 

 higher mammal, several spasms as a rule are sufficient. If the ani- 

 mal recovers from the initial spasm, it usually dies from a second 

 or even a third. Instances of multiple and repeated attacks of 

 spasms deserve investigation from the standpoint of their prevention 

 by suitable environment. Life may be prolonged and sometimes 

 saved by deep anaesthesia. Githens and Meltzer (8) obtained some 

 recoveries from twice the lethal dose by the use of intravenous in- 

 jections of Ringer solution, together with intratracheal insufflation. 

 Presumably the advantage was double in that strychnine was elimi- 

 nated at a relatively rapid rate in the urine on account of the diuresis 

 and destroyed in the tissues at the usual rate. In the meanwhile 

 the artificial respiration saved the life of the animal until the 

 strychnine had been reduced below the absolute lethal amount. 



Because of the relative suddenness of intoxication and the quick 

 termination, remedial therapeusis in man ordinarily fails of an 

 opportunity for use. Severe spasms in themselves are not neces- 

 sarily a cause of death, as is shown by their occurrence in tetanus. 

 Practically, however, it is possible to hasten death by producing . 

 them, or delay it, either by warding them off or by shortening them 

 by the use of anaesthetics. For this reason therapists have recom- 

 mended anaesthesia, together with absolute quiet. The reflexes re- 

 sulting from the least noise or draft of air may inaugurate the vicious 

 cycle of spasms. 



On the other hand, the outcome in children, who are supposed to 

 be more resistant than adults (28), seems less hopeless. A. child (4) 

 who apparently recovered after receiving an intraspinal injection 

 of magnesium sulphate behaved in many ways like the infant ani- 

 mals. Even though lethal doses be administered to young animals, 

 death is delayed. Life is prolonged thereby until suitable remedies 



* Unpublished results of S. E. Piper, Bureau of Biological Survey, U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture. 



