ACTION OF STRYCHNIA ON THE DOG. 
157 
twice a day without any marked effect, for three days, it was 
increased to a quarter of a grain. Again, two hours after the 
exhibition of the agent, another and a more violent con- 
vulsive paroxysm took place. The prostration of strength 
was considerable, the animal being unable to stand, and the 
spasms of the muscles of the whole frame violent. In a 
short time, however, he was able to get on his legs, when his 
pulse was found to be 130; the respiration much laboured; 
the saliva flowed freely from his mouth ; the pupils were di- 
lated; he started at the slightest noise being made, and 
evinced much fear. He was, however, only able to maintain 
the standing position by placing both hind and fore legs wide 
apart, while all power of locomotion w r as lost. These symp- 
toms gradually disappeared, the animal, in four hours after- 
wards, being comparatively free from them. 
25th. — The same dose was again administered, and nearly 
the same effects followed, but they were less powerful. 
27th. — Tw t o days w 7 ere allowed to intervene, and as the 
disease appeared not to have yielded, a quarter of a grain of 
strychnia was again given. Scarcely any effects followed 
the exhibition of this dose. The following day it w r as given 
twice, and thus repeated daily, without any very marked action. 
July 4th. — Two days had again elapsed without the medi- 
cine having been given, wdien it was exhibited in the same 
quantities as before, this being found as much as could with 
safety be administered ; and although four doses had been con- 
secutively given without any marked effect, yet the dose to-day 
produced violent action. The animal, two hours after its ex- 
hibition, suffered considerable prostration of strength, lost 
all power of standing, and involuntarily voided the contents 
both of his rectum and bladder. The pulse and respiration 
became much accelerated ; the saliva flowed from his mouth ; 
the spasmodic twitchings of the body were most violent, and 
the other symptoms manifested w 7 ere precisely analogous to 
those already recorded. Soon, however, the animal w 7 as 
enabled to rise, and by making, as it w 7 ere, props of his ex- 
tremities, he maintained the standing position, when the 
effects gradually became less and less urgent, and four hours 
afterwards the whole of the unfavorable symptoms had dis- 
appeared. The disease not having yielded, the use of the 
agent was discontinued. 
Scattered throughout the pages of this Journal will be 
found accounts of the action of this powerful alkaloid on 
different animals. We may be permitted to refer our readers 
to vols. ix, xii, xiii, and xxiv. 
