STRYCHNIA. 83 
has an intensely bitter taste. According to Liebigs 100 parts 
of strychnia are composed of — 
Carbon 
. 7643 
"Nitrogen . 
. 5 81 
Hydrogen . 
. 6-70 
Oxygen . 
. 11-06 
10000 
Its equivalent is 234, and its symbol C 30 H 16 N O 3 . 
The adulterations to which strychnia is liable are colour- 
ing matter and common salt. 
In small doses it acts as a tonic, but in larger ones as a 
special stimulant on the medulla oblongata and spinal mar- 
row, without affecting the sensorium. When given in small 
quantities as a tonic, it produces an increased energy in the 
digestive powers. Its most remarkable effects are, however, 
on the nerves of motion, and are indicated by spasmodic 
twitchings of the voluntary muscles, which, as the dose is in- 
creased, amount to violent tetanic spasms. 
When dogs swallow nux vomica in large doses, they are 
quickly attacked with all the symptoms of tetanus : — distor- 
tion of the limbs, tremor, convulsive movements of the face 
and eyelids, immobility of the eyes, and a complete rigidity 
of all the muscles of the body ; which symptoms are much 
increased by exciting the animal, but there is no delirium ; 
showing that the brain is in no way affected. Many other 
animals, as cats, rats, foxes, & c., are similarly affected ; but 
some animals, as hogs and goats, eat it with impunity. Its 
influence on the nerves of sensation is remarkably exempli- 
fied in reptiles. 
M. Dupuy, having divided the eighth pair of nerves, in a 
horse, gave the animal two ounces of nux vomica, in the form 
of a ball, without any effect ; he gave the like dose to another 
horse, which died in a few hours, with violent tetanic symp- 
toms. From this, it appears to act solely through the intes- 
tinal nerves, and not, as Magendie states, by absorption, and 
being conveyed by the blood to the spinal cord. 
Applied to wounds, strychnia produces tetanic symptoms ; 
but no convulsions follow its application to the sound skin. 
The action of strychnia and the extract of nux vomica 
differ in one respect, which is not easily explained. Extract 
of nux vomica determines the blood powerfully to the head, 
while it is very rare that pure strychnine and its salts pro- 
duce any effect on the cerebral circulation. 
Professor Simonds and Mr. E. Braby have employed 
