“The general dose in these experiments was from half a grain to two grains; half a grain is sufficient to destroy life in larger animals. I have seen both a dog and a cat die of this dose, but not always. Some animals as a species are more susceptible than those of a different species, and among animals of the same species some are more susceptible than others. The symptoms in the experiments I have mentioned did not occur after so long a period as an hour. We have had to repeat the dose in some instances when half a grain was given. In the case of a cat, symptoms of spasm were produced, but the cat did not die; she had not swallowed the whole dose. I think I have known animals of the cat species killed with half a grain.”
Question.—“Have you any doubt of it?”
Answer.—“Yes. I think it would be the minimum dose in an old strong cat. If given in a fluid state I think a smaller dose would suffice. Hurried breathing is one of the first symptoms, afterwards there are twitchings and trembling of the muscles and then convulsions.”
Question.—“Is there any diversity in the intervals and order of the symptoms in animals of the same species?”
Answer.—“They certainly do not occur after the same intervals of time, but I should say they generally occur in the order I have described. There is some difference in the periods at which the convulsions take place. Some will die after less convulsions than others, but generally after four or five. In one or two instances an animal has died after one convulsion. In those instances a dose has been given equal in amount to another which has not produced the same effect. The order in which the muscles are convulsed varies to some extent. The muscles of the limbs are generally affected first. The convulsions generally occur simultaneously.”
Question.—“Do you know of any case of strychnia in which rigidity after death was greater than the usual rigor mortis?”
Answer.—“I think not. I don’t think there is any peculiar rigidity produced by strychnia.”
Question.—“Have you never found undue rigidity in a human subject after death by strychnia?”
Answer.—“Considerably less.”
Question.-”In the anonymous case (the Leeds), were not the hands curved and the feet arched by muscular contraction?”