MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. I49 



Dose. — Horse, y 2 to i l / 2 dr.; sheep, 10 to 30 ms. ; dogs, l /\ 

 to 5 minims. ; cattle, 1 to 2 drs. ; pigs, 5 to 20 ms. 



tinctura nucis voMicse — Tincture of Nux Vomica. — 

 (Strength 2% of the extract=o.3.% alkaloids.) 



Dose. — Dogs, 2 to 15 ms. 



Composition. — Nux Vomica contains strychnine which is the 

 chief alkaloid, also brucine (not official) and strychnic or igasuric 

 acid. 



The proportion, of Strychnine ranges from 0.2% to 0.6% . « 

 and of Brucine 0.5% to 1%. \,' 



strychninae sulphas. — Occurs as a white salt in colorless 

 prismatic crystals, odorless, exceedingly and persistently bitter, 

 soluble at 59 F in 50 parts of water, it is sparingly soluble in 

 alcohol, effloresces on exposure to the air ; gives the bitter taste 

 when diluted with 1,000,000 parts of water. 



Dose. — Horse, 1 to 3 grs. ; sheep, Y\ to 1 gr. ; dogs, 1-120 to 

 1-30 gr. ; cattle, 2 to 6 grs.; pigs, 1-15 to y 2 gr. One-half of 

 these doses for hypodermic, intratracheal, or rectal use. 



Antagonists . and Incompatibles. — The paralyzers, such as 

 woorara. conium, tobacco, opium, belladonna and physostigma, 

 antagonize the actions of strychnine ( or nux vomica), in part, 

 but they do not. antagonize its toxic action; chloral, tobacco, 

 bromide of potash, ether and chloroform (inhaled) are its true 

 physiological antagonists. 



In Case of Poisoning. — Tannic acid, or vegetables contain- 

 ing it it should be freely administered, for the tannate of strych- 

 nine which is formed is very insoluble ; an emetic or the stomach 

 pump must be used promptly. 



The tetanic spasms are best controlled by chloral or very 

 large doses of potas. brom. (2 drs. to y 2 oz. for man) or 4 to 8 

 ozs. for the horse as antidote for strychnine poisoning. Inhala- 

 tions of ether are also good. Chloral may be used per rectum 

 or intravenously. Inhalations of amyl nitrite are also of value. 



The administration of melted lard ad. lib. seems to exert 

 peculiar antidotal properties to strychnine poisoning. 



As an emetic for dogs Apomorphinas Hydrochloras 1-20 to 

 1-5 gr. given hypodermatically is the best and may have to be 

 pushed as emetics act tardily in poisoning by this drug. 



