Savory has shown that strychnia is much more poisonous when injected into the rectum 
that when shallowed. Harley’s experiments prove that this powerful remedy acts 
upon all parts of the spinal cord, dilating the vessels, thereby increasing the supply of 
blood to the cord, while at the same time it augments its functional activity. Strychnia 
does not merely heighten the reflex action of the cord but it so affects it that impres¬ 
sions are not confined within their natural limits, but diffuse themselves throughout the 
whole cord. 
It is from this property of increasing the supply of blood to the cord that strychnia 
is administered in those cases where paraplegia depends on softening and wasting of the 
cord, further destruction of the degenerated tissues being prevented by dilating the ves¬ 
sels and increasing the supply of blood to the parts. 
It exhibits its action sooner upon paralyzed than unparalyzed muscles. In medi¬ 
cinal doses it strengthens the action of the heart. Harley says strychnia lessens the 
absorption of oxygen and the production of carbonic acid, or in other words, the respira¬ 
tory function of the blood is lessened. Animals suffering from habitual flatulence are 
relieved by the use of nux vomica or its alkaloid. According to Dr. Anstie strychnia 
increases the capillary circulation. It is upon this ground that its use was recom¬ 
mended by our profession in the treatment of Purpura Hsemorrhagica. 
But as the extravasations in this disease are due principally to an alteration in the 
character and composition of the blood, I imagine it would be more in keeping with 
science should we treat the cause of the trouble than to treat one of the results. Still, 
if the administration of strychnia will prevent these extravasations from taking place 
by its action upon the capillaries, it will form a valuable adjunct to the direct treat¬ 
ment of the blood. Strychnia is of marked benefit in many cases of incontinence of 
urine. I remember treating a mare that had aborted a six months’foal, and was 
suffering from paralysis of the neck of the bladder, with small doses of strychnia, and 
effected a cure in a few days’ time. 
We probably use strychnia more in the treatment of meningitis than in all the 
other diseases combined. That it is of great value in the later stages of this dis¬ 
ease can be attested by almost any veterinarian who has had this formidable disease to 
deal with. I have seen it used from the very outset of spinal meningitis with good 
results ; yet if our knowledge of the pathology of theMisease is correct it would hardly 
seem indicated in the early stage. If the amount of blood sent to the spinal cord in 
meningitis is in excess of the normal quantity, the administration of strychnia, which 
increases capillary circulation, would be expected to aggravate the symptoms, yet such 
is not the fact. One of two things then seems evident to my mind, and that is that 
strychnia either does not increase the capillary circulation in the meninges of the cord, 
or else the stimulating effects it has upon the functional activity of the cord, indepen¬ 
dent of that produced by an increased supply of blood over-balances the interference of 
function dependent upon an excessive supply of blood to the parts. I have used it 
early in a case of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis in conjunction with carbonate of ammonia 
with satisfactory results. 1 have tested its influence upon the same disease by alternat¬ 
ing every two days with extract of belladonna and carbonate of ammonia, and found 
the patient did as well apparently under the exhibition of the one as of the other. 
If there was any difference in the symptoms noted, it was that while the animal was 
under the influence of strychnia, the temperature was from one-half to one degree 
higher than during the time of giving the belladonna. Now, it seems to me if belladonna 
and strychnia are diametrically opposed in their action upon the capillaries of the 
