STEYCHNINE SULPHATE 405 



Bespiration. — It is probable that strychnine is tbe most 

 powerful and effective respiratory stimulant we possess. 

 Through its influence the respiratory movements are quick- 

 €ned and strengthened by therapeutic doses. It is likely the 

 action, as upon other spinal centres, is indirect, i. e., the res- 

 piratory centres are made to respond more forcibly to sensory 

 stimuli. 



Organs of Special Sense. — The sense of sight, smell, 

 bearing and touch is rendered more acute by strychnine. 



Elimination. — Strychnine escapes to some extent un- 

 changed, and also as strychnic acid, in the urine. It ap- 

 pears within half an hour of ingestion and may be discov- 

 ered in the urine from 3 to 8 days thereafter. The greater 

 part of strychnine is probably olxidized in the body. While 

 the drug is not cumulative, in the sense of producing sudden 

 and violent action following its continual use in gradually 

 increasing doses, yet a tolerance for it can not be acquired. 



Administration. — For tonic purposes, strychnine may be 

 given to dogs in pills or tablets, and to horses in solution 

 dropped on the tongue, l^ux vomica is given to horses upon 

 the food in the form of powder, or in fluid extract upon the 

 tongue; while the tincture is more appropriate for dogs. 

 When large doses of strychnine are used, or an immediate 

 action is desired in acute diseases and emergencies, the 

 alkaloid should be given imder the skin. 



Toxicology. — One-twentieth of a grain of strychnine 

 nitrate, injected subcutaneously by the writer into a dog 

 weighing 25 lbs., caused uneasiness and excitement, with 

 protrusion of the eye-balls, and in the space of ten minutes, 

 tetanic convulsions. The breathing was shallow and almost 

 imperceptible, the pulse rapid and iregular, the lips were 

 covered with foam, the tail was stiff and extended, the ears 

 laid back, and there was general muscular rigidity,, the 

 animal lying on his side in a state of opisthotonos. This. 



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