156 
ACTION OF STRYCHNIA ON THE DOG. 
were directed to be applied to the abdomen by means of rugs 
dipped in boiling water and wrung out. Pain greater, belly 
tympanitic, and yet the animal has eaten some hay, but re- 
fuses water. Another hour subsequent to this the pulse 
had fallen to 80, and from that it became reduced to 70, but 
the swelling of the belly had increased, and the animal still 
expressed great pain. All at once he experienced a violent 
convulsive paroxysm, and died instantly. 
Inspectio cadaveris presented the lungs in a high state of 
inflammation ; the stomach filled with food, indeed gorged ; 
the intestines distended with flatus, and containing much 
faecal matter, mixed with a considerable quantity of gravel; 
the mucous lining of both the stomach and intestines exhibited 
a slight inflammatory blush, as did the cellular tissue through- 
out the body, but the brain and spinal marrow were unfortu- 
nately not examined. This omission was soon after supplied, 
for to a horse labouring under paralysis of the hind extremi- 
ties this alkaloid had been given in gradually augmented 
quantities, till the dose reached 3 grs. twice in the day ; and 
seven days after, not any beneficial effects having taken place 
the dose was increased to 4 grs., and ultimately to 5 grs. 
twice in the day, when the animal was destroyed, as no hope 
of cure was entertained. 
Another opportunity was thus afforded for a post-mortem 
examination. The viscera both of the chest and abdomen 
were in this case found in a perfectly healthy state. The 
membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, particularly 
the pia-mater, were highly injected, although the substance 
of the brain and spinal cord was healthy. 
The cause of the paralysis was found to be the existence 
of small osseous tumours that pressed on the spinal sheath, 
associated with anchylosis of several of the vertebrae. 
ACTION OF STRYCHNIA ON THE DOG. 
. June 16th. — The sixteenth part of a grain was adminis- 
tered to a dog labouring under chorea. 
19th. — Three days after, the dose was increased to one- 
eighth of a grain. About two hours afterwards a slight con- 
vulsive paroxysm took place, which soon, however, passed off. 
20th. — Dose to be repeated. 
21st. — No apparent effect having followed this dose, it was 
given twice in the day. 
24th. — The dose being now one eighth of a grain and given 
