STRYCHNINE. Strychnine (strych nina, F. S. P.) is an alkaloid obtained from nux vomica (Strychnos nux-romica; nat. ord., Loganiacece) and from other plants belonging to the same natural order. Strychnine occurs in small, hard crystals having a very bitter taste, and is soluble in 7 parts of chloroform, in 110 parts of cold and in 12 parts of boil ing alcohol. and in 6700 parts of cold and 2500 parts of boiling water. In ad dition to its medicinal uses it is em ployed as a poison for rats, mice, foxes, and wolves. Strychnine forms many salts, of which the sulphate is official.
Strychnine sulphate occurs in odorless prisms, having a very bitter taste, which effloresce in dry air. It is soluble in 50 parts of cold and in 2 parts of boiling water, and in 109 parts of cold and in S.5 parts of boiling alcohol.
Preparations and Doses. Strychnina (tr. S. P.), to grain.
Strychnine' sulphas S. P.), tc, grain.
Ferri et strychnine; citras (U. S. P.), 1 to 5 grains. (See Ino.N.) Syrupus ferri, quininie, et strychnitm phosphatum (U. S. P.), to 1 drachm.
(See PHOSPHORUS.) Physiological Action.In small thera peutic doses strychnine produces very little disturbance of the system, but acts as a powerful bitter tonic. The adminis tration of large therapeutic doses is fol lowed by a marked general stimulation and increase of bodily tone, and, if the doses be larger, the respiratory centres are powerfully stimulated and the blood pressure, pulse-beat, and pulse-rate are increased.
Strychnine acts the same upon almost all animals. Its local action is that of a slight irritant. When taken by man, in doses sufficient to produce sensible physiological effects, a feeling of restless ness appears, accompanied, perhaps, by tremblings in the limbs and some stiff ness in the neck and jaws. The inges tion of larger amounts may be followed by general muscular twitchings, with stiffness of the throat and chest, and formications or other unnatural sensa tions under the skin may be present. In overdose strychnine produces spinal or tetanic convulsions.