132 STIMULANTS TO CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM 



the urine after concentration by boiling will produce characteristic 

 convulsions if injected into a frog. 



Temperature. The temperature is slightly raised by therapeu- 

 tic doses on account of increased oxidation. During the tetanic con- 

 vulsions it is much elevated but falls in the exhaustive or paralytic 

 stage just before death. * 



Toxicology. The early symptoms of strychnine poisoning are 

 uneasiness, nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, twitching of the mus- 

 cles and stiffness of the neck. If the dose is sufficiently large the 

 twitching increases and spinal convulsions quickly appear. The 

 body is thrown in orthotonus or opisthotonus. The convulsions are 

 usually intermittent with a period of depression but can be excited 

 by the slightest external stimuli such as talking, touching, clapping 

 the hands, etc. The pupils are dilated, the mind clear and the 

 animal suffers severe pain. In fatal cases the convulsions follow 

 each other rapidly with increasing severity and finally death takes 

 place from asphyxia, spasm of the respiratory muscles, exhaustion, 

 or paralysis of the medullary centers. Very large doses may kill 

 by paralysis of the central nervous system or motor nerve end- 

 ings. 



Diagnosis of Strychnine Poisoning. From tetanus by ab- 

 sence of history of a wound or presence of a wound, intermittent 

 character of convulsions, late involvement of the muscles of the jaw, 

 and rapid course. 



From eclampsia of nursing bitches. In eclampsia the reflex ex- 

 citability is not increased. 



Treatment. 1. Keep the animal and surroundings as quiet as 

 possible, as very slight stimuli will cause convulsions. 



2. Use emetics or stomach tube if convulsions have not already 

 appeared. If they have started these should not be attempted as 

 convulsions will be caused by their administration. In this case, 

 control the convulsions first with chloroform, chloral, amyl nitrite, 

 paraldehyde, etc. 



3. The chemical antidotes are tannic acid and potassium per- 

 manganate, but these should be washed out of the stomach as soon 

 as the condition of the patient permits. 



4. The physiological antidotes are chloroform, ether, chloral 

 hydrate, paraldehyde. Eor quick action chloroform or ether can 

 be given by inhalation (by artificial respiration if necessary). 

 Chloroform may be used to check the spasm but should then be re- 

 placed by ether to hold the condition. When the convulsions have 

 been controlled, chloral hydrate or paraldehyde may be given per 

 rectum. The bromides, in large doses, are recommended in human 

 practice for lasting effect. Morphine should not be used because it 

 not only fails to antagonize strychnine on the cord, but is at the same 

 time depressant to the respiratory center. 



