410 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Strychnine has proved curative in some cases of amaurosis, 

 when injected in the region of the temple. 



3. Strychnine or nux vomica, associated with iron and 

 arsenic, form the most generally satisfactory tonic combina- 

 tion for the horse and dog, particularly with reference to 

 the digestion. Atonic forms of indigestion and constipation, 

 the accompaniments of ausemia, are those amenable to the 

 influence of the drug, which stimulates peristalsis, and there- 

 fore hinders fermentation, prevents relaxation, and so over- 

 secretion from loss of vascular, tone. 



Strychnine is a valuable remedy in overloaided rumen 

 and omasum, and chronic tympanitis of cattle ; or in over- 

 loaded and impacted large intestines, of the horse. It should 

 be given subcutaneously in these conditions, and frequently 

 in combination with pilocarpine and eserine. 



Constipation, and, on the other hand, diarrhoea, are 

 benefited by strychnine when they are due to atony of 

 the intestinal muscular coat. It is more commoijly in 

 the former disorder that the drug finds its usefulness. 

 The aloin, strychnine and belladonna pills, with cascara 

 sagrada, are useful in habitual constipation in dogs, but the 

 weaker formula, containing gr.y^ of strychnine, should be 

 employed. The value and application of strychnine in ano- 

 rexia and atonic digestive disorders has been sufficiently 

 treated above. 



Class 2. — Depressing: the Inferior Cornua. 



Physostigma. Physostigma. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Physostigmatis semen, B. P. ; Calabar or 

 ordeal bean, faba physostigmatis, S. faba Calabarica, E. 

 The seed of Physostigma venenosum. Balfour (nat. ord. 

 leguminosse). 



Habitat. — Calabar and the region of the mouth of the 

 Niger, in "Western Africa. 



Description.^Aboui 25 to 30 mm. long, 15 to 20 mm. 



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