Dose.—Horses, 1⁄2 to 11⁄2 gr.; cattle, 1 to 3 gr.; sheep, 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 gr.; dogs, 1⁄120 to 1⁄40 gr. The small doses are to be used when strychnine is given subcutaneously.
Actions.—Nerve tonic, stomach tonic, stimulates respiration, secretion, appetite and digestion; it increases peristalsis, stimulates both the motor and inhibitory apparatus of the heart, and raises arterial tension by stimulating the vaso-motor centers, thus contracting the arterioles, though full doses relax the arterioles and thus lower blood pressure.
Strychnine exalts all functions of the spinal cord, reflex, motor, vaso-motor and sensory, the latter being the least affected; it does not affect the brain directly.
Toxicology.—Large doses cause trembling and twitching of the voluntary and involuntary muscles with violent clonic spasms, lasting one or two minutes, gradually getting more frequent and severe in form involving the glottis, diaphragm and other muscles of respiration; causes death usually from asphyxia. Very large doses may paralyze the cord as from a blow, and cause almost instant death.
Uses.—Nux vomica or strychnine is indicated in any condition in which there is a paralysis or depressed state of the nerves or nervous system; atonic dyspepsia, broken wind, relaxed condition of the bowels due to lack of tone, in small doses.
In weak condition of the heart give with small doses of digitalis; it stimulates sexual organs. Give it in convalescence from debilitating diseases, also as an aid to recovery during their progress; in collapse and for narcotic poisoning strychnine hypodermically in paralysis, whether of limbs, intestines or bladder.
In diarrhoea, due to lack of tone of muscular coat of the bowels combined with astringents; for anaemia, strychnine combined with iron and quinine; nervous coughs use strychnine with sedatives; also in incontinuence of urine and chorea, in dogs after distemper.
Antidote for Strychnine Poisoning.—Tannic acid or vegetables containing it should be freely administered, for the tannate of strychnine which is formed is very insoluble; an emetic or the stomach pump must be used promptly. The tetanic spasms are best controlled by chloral hydrate or very large doses of potassium bromide (2 dr. to 1⁄2 oz. for man) or 4 to 8 ounces for the horse as antidote for strychnine poisoning. Inhalations of ether are also recommended. Chloral hydrate may be used per rectum or intravenously. Inhalations of amyl nitrate are also of value. The administration of melted lard seems to exert peculiar antidotal properties to strychnine poisoning. As an emetic for dogs apomorphinae hydrochloras 1⁄20 to 1⁄5 grain, given hypodermically, is the best and may have to be pushed as emetics act tardily in poisoning by this drug.
OLEUM MORRHUAE—COD LIVER OIL
A fixed oil obtained from the fresh livers of cod fish.