84 
STRYCHNIA. 
strychnine with success in cases of paralysis in the horse. 
Mr. Youatt recommends it for chorea in the dog. Its action, 
however, is very powerful, and its use calls for much caution. 
A solution of its salts may be applied to paralysed parts with 
benefit. 
The dose for a horse is from gr.j to gr. iij, twice a day, 
combined with vegetable tonics. 
That for the dog, from ^th to |th and ith of a grain. The 
fatal consequences of this drug appears to proceed from ex- 
hausted action of the heart, and asphyxia. Post-mortem 
examinations display scarcely any trace of inflammation, 
even in the stomach, but the venous system is always found 
gorged with blood, while the arterial is nearly empty. 
We have no certain antidote. In case of an overdose of 
strychnia having been given, emetics may be used in the dog 
to remove the poison, after which tincture of iodine should 
be administered, as this forms with strychnia, out of the 
body, an inert compound. This antidote, if such it be, was 
discovered by Dr. Donne. 
The bean of St. Ignatius, the wourali poison, and the 
upas tiente, owe their poisonous properties to strychnia. 
The quantity required to destroy life in man is very small. 
The smallest fatal dose was that in the case of Dr. Warner, 
who died from the effects of half a grain of sulphate of 
strychnia in fourteen minutes after its exhibition. On the 
other hand, a person has been known to recover from a dose 
of seven grains. 
In 1837 or 1838 an action was brought against an in- 
surance company to recover the amount of a policy on the 
life of a young lady who had died under suspicious circum- 
stances soon after several insurances had been effected by 
the plaintiff. The plaintiff did not recover their amounts, 
and utimately fled the country. He is supposed to have 
administered strychnia to her in porter. 
The following physiological test for this poison is from the 
Lancet . 
NOTES ON THE DETECTION OF STRYCHNIA. 
By Marshall Hall, M.D. 
66 The detection of strychnia as a poison is at this moment 
of deep public interest; when chemical tests fail there re- 
mains another, the physiological. 
“ Having long studied the effects of strychnia on the 
animal economy, I am persuaded that these effects on the 
