538 
POISONING OF A DOG BY STRYCHNIA. 
severe. The dog was evidently conscious, as he recognised 
his mistress. At our request the son of the lady endeavoured 
to flex the hind leg, but from its rigid condition there was no 
possibility of doing so, and the attempt brought on the mus- 
cular twitchings previously alluded to. At one period the 
animal struggled violently and attempted to rise, and at a 
moment when he was not observed he made a sudden con- 
vulsive movement, and threw himself over on his other side 
with his head in the opposite direction to that which it had 
previously occupied. 
The piteous long contracted whine and moaning were con- 
tinuous, and the spasmodic twitchings recurred at intervals ; 
these were aggravated whenever the dog was approached or 
touched. From the evidence before us, there could be no 
mistaking the case ; it was one of poisoning by strychnia, 
the true pathological effects of which were developed. 
The owner was informed that the case was of a serious 
character, and that if the dog had taken a sufficient quantity 
of the agent, death must inevitably take place. As, how- 
ever, some time had elapsed, viz. two hours, there was some 
hope of a favorable result, and it was deemed expedient to 
administer an emetic, under the impression that all the agent 
might not have become soluble, and any poisonous matter 
that remained in the stomach had better be ejected ; for this 
purpose half a scruple of the sulphate of zinc was given, this 
agent being preferred because it was not so depressing in its 
effects as the tartarised antimony, also because it would exert 
some astringent action. The mixture was given in slightly 
tepid water, and vomition took place in the course of an 
hour. As an antidote a mixture of three grains of tannic 
acid to one ounce of water was given, and this was to be re- 
peated when required, but in two hours afterwards the dog 
was so much relieved, that the further employment of the 
tannic acid was considered unnecessary ; nature, assisted by 
the emetic, was working her own way towards recovery. 
Shortly after this the dog rose upon his legs, and although 
his head was depressed and his gait staggering, he was so far 
enabled to support himself as to walk in the garden, where 
the fresh air seemed to invigorate him. When the animal 
was brought into the house and laid upon the sofa he seemed 
much better, but occasionally the trembling returned ; treat- 
ment was ordered in the form of cold beef tea and bread, and 
bread and milk, and on inquiry as late as ten o'clock p.m. 
he was reported as progressing favorably. 
Our assistant called early on the following morning, when 
the dog was reported to be apparently well, and beyond a 
