408 VEGETABLE DKUGS 



periods between the convulsions, in the case of strychnine 

 poisoning. Moreover, in tetanus the body and limbs are 

 less, and the jaw more affected ; while in strychnine poison- 

 ing the condition is reversed. 



Treatment. — The treatment embraces the use of chemical 

 antidotes, as iodine or its salts, or tannic acid ; animal char- 

 coal and emetics or the stomach tube, before absorption has 

 occurred. The best physiological antidote is chloral in 

 large doses per rectum. Chloroform and nitrite of amyl 

 may also be given by inhalation, and quiet and rest enforced. 

 Artificial respiration is of service in paralysis, but not in 

 convulsions, unless air be forcibly driven into the trachea 

 through a canula. Cala,bar bean and gelsemium both 

 depress the inferior cornua,but neither are of much valua 

 in strychnine poisoning. 



Post-Mortem Appearances. — These are simply those of 

 asphyxia, with the usual congestive lesions and dark fluid 

 blood, except that sometimes spinal hypersemia is ob- 

 served. 



Uses Internal. — The indications for the employment of 

 strychnine may be directly deduced from its physiological 

 actions. The indications are as follows : 



1. To stimulate the heart and respiration. 



2. To stimulate the spinal cord ; more particularly the 

 motor cells of the inferior cornua. 



3. To stimulate appetite, digestion, and intestinal peri- 

 stalsis in atonic conditions. 



1. Strychnine is the best remedy we can employ to 

 stimulate the heart, respiration and nervous system, and to 

 promote appetite and digestion in acute diseases. No better 

 drug can be used in the treatment of pneumonia and influ- 

 enza in horses. Strychnine should not be used continuously, 

 but only to bridge over a period of weakness Or collapse. 

 It may be combined in the first stages of pneumonia with 

 nitrites, as spirit of nitrous ether, or nitroglycerin. The 

 latter dilate arterioles, equalize the circulation by prevent- 

 ing venous stasis, and engorgement of the right heart; while 



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