150 SYNOPSIS OF VETERINARY 



• The maintenance of artificial respiration ha a decided effect 

 in warding off in animals, as in man, the lethal action of strych- 

 nine. Strychnine should not be combined with bromides, chlo- 

 rides and iodides, in the same solution ; accident? have happened 

 by taking the last portion, which will contain all of the strychnine 

 precipitated as the hydrobromate, hydroiodate, etc. 



Synergists. — Brucine, picrotoxine, thebaine, ergot, bella- 

 donna, electricity, cold, etc. promote the activity of nux vomica 

 and its alkaloids. 



Physiological Actions. — Nerve tonic, stomach tonic, stimu- 

 lates respiration, secretion, appetite, and digestion, it increases 

 peristalsis, stimulates both the motor and inhibitory apparatus of 

 heart, and raises arterial tension by stimulating the vaso-motor 

 centers, thus contracting the arterioles, through full doses relax 

 the arterioles and thus lower blood pressure. 



Strychnine exalts all the functions of the spinal cord, re- 

 flex, motor, vaso-motor and sensory, the latter being the least 

 affected; it does not affect the brain directly. (Strychnine is ab- 

 sorbed more readily from the rectum than from the stomach and 

 still more rapidly from the bronchi and cellular tissues. Give J4 

 the oral dose for hypodermic, intratracheal and rectal use.) 



Toxic DosES cause trembling and twitching of the voluntary 

 and involuntary muscles, with violent clonic spasms, lasting 

 usually 1 or 2 minutes, gradually getting more frequent and 

 severe, and from involving the glottis, diaphragm and other 

 muscles of respiration, cause death usually from asphyxia. Very 

 large doses may paralyze the cord as from a blow, and cause 

 almost instant death. 



The symptoms and mode of death resemble those of tetanus, 

 but are more suddenly developed, more intermittent and more 

 rapidly fatal. The muscular rigidity does not occur as often in 

 tetanus, which first affects the muscles of the jaws, (trismus) 

 The spasms of strychnine poisoning are clonic -while those in te- 

 tanus are tonic ; horses and cattle are not as susceptible to the 

 effects of strychnine as man and dogs. 6 to 12 grs. are toxic in 

 horses by the mouth, 3 to 6 grs. are toxic in horses hypodermi- 

 cally; 1-10 to 1-6 gr. up, are toxic in dogs by the mouth. 



Medicinal Uses. — Nux vomica or strychnine is indicated in 

 any condition in which there is a paralysis or depressed state of 



