<$5:

AN
INAUGURAL. DISSERTATION
ON
STRYCHNIA:
PRESENTED TO THE
PeWJfacttitpfS^I College,
MAY 1st, 1858,
PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MEDItlNE AND SURGERY.
BY ALEXANDER. P. REID.
              JHonttc al:
PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, AT THE CANADA DIRECTORY OFFICE
            ST. NICHOLAS STREET.
               1858.
it
5S 
 
Air
INAUGURAL  DISSERTATION
05
STRYCHNIA:
PRESENTED TO THE
   xbieal iaenftg of IMiil College,

           MAY 1ST, 1858,

PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND SCRpCRY.
BY ALEXANDER, P.  REID.
              Montreal:
PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, AT THE CANADA DIRECTORY OFFICE,
            BT. NICHOLAS STREET.
               1858. 
 
ESMIiam  22inght, fH.B.
PROFESSOR OF MATERIA MEDICA IN M°GILL COLLEGE.
AND  TO THE OTHER
fSUmbcta at tlje  fSltBtcal JFarultg  at tfjat JSttbersttg,
THE FOLLOWING  PAGES ARE  DEDICATED,
AS A TRIBUTE OF FRIENDSHIP, AND ALSO OF GRATITUDE
FOR THE GREAT BENEFIT DERIVED FROM THEIR VALUABLE TKACHING,
AND THE MANY INSTANCES OF PERSONAL KINDNESS,
BY THEIR FRIEND AND FORMER PUPIL,
THK AUTHOR 
 
  The Medical Faculty of McGill College desirous of marking
their appreciation of the high merits of the Inaugural Disser-
tation  on Strychnia, by Alexander P.  Reid, M.D., have
awarded it the unusual distinction of publication.  The appro-
bation, thus bestowed, falls upon the  production of a young
gentleman who had to contend against several difficulties in
its  composition.   Without  the aid  of superior directions,
limited to a  few of the treatises in more common use, and un-
supplied with chemical auxiliaries of the more delicate sort,
he has yet managed to put forth many originalities, particu-
larly in  the  experimental department of Toxicology, and to
give them such  a  maturity  of elaboration as fits  them for
practical employment. His Essay is founded upon one to which,
in the previous year, was adjudged the premium in the Materia
Medica Class of the University.  The  leisure the author has
since enjoyed, and the opportunities afForded him while further
pursuing his studies in the  chief cities of Great Britain  and
Ireland, have not been allowed to  pass away without being
devoted to the work of its improvement. 
 
CONTENTS.
                                                                   Page
History,..........................................................    9
Preparation,.......................................................    9
Chemical Characteristics and Sensible Properties,.....................   11
    Tests,........................................................   11
    Delicacy of Tests,..............................................   15
Experiments on Animals,...........................................   15
Detection in Organic Liquids,.......................................   17
Action of Tests with Xux Vomica,...................................   18
Strychnia obtained from Compound Solutions,.........................   19
Physiological Effects,..............................................   19
    On Vegetables,...............................................   19
    On Animals,..................................................   20
    On Man,......................................................   20
Post-mortem appearances,..........................................   21
Modus operandi.....................................  .............   21
Uses,.............................................................   23
Administration,...................................................   24
Antidotes,........................................................   24
Salts of Strychnia,.................................................   27
Strychnia with Oxygen acids,........................................   27
Sulphate of Strychnia,..............................................   28
Nitrate      "       ..............................................   28
Acetate      "       ...............•..............................   28
Strychnate   "       ..............................................   28
Tannate      "       ..............................................   28
Chromate     "       ..............................................   29
Carbazotate  "       ..............................................   29
Benzoate     "       ..............................................   29
Gallate      "       .............................................   29
    Strychnia with Halogen Radicals,...............................   30
       Strychnia and Chlorine,......................................   30
Hydrochlorate of Strychnia,......................................   30
Ohloruretted Hydrochlorate of Strychnia,..............................   31 
mi.
      Strychnia and Iodine,........................................
Hydriodate of Strychnia............................................
Ioduretted Hydriodate of Strychnia,..................................
      Strychnia and Bromine,......................................
Hydrobromate of Strychnia,.........................................
Bromiuretted Hydrobromate of Strychnia,............................
Strychnia and  Fluorine,............................................
Strychnia and  Cyanogen,...........................................
Hydrocyanate  of Strychnia,.........................................
Hydroferrocyanate of Strychnia,.....................................
Hydrosulphocyanate of Strychnia,.............................
Strychnia with the Metals,.....................................
      Metal acting as an Acid—Strychnia and Antimony,..............  36
Antimoniate of Strychnia,..........................................
      Strychnia and Arsenic,...................................
Arsenite of Slrvchnia,.......................................
               ,                                     ................  36
Arseniate     do.,     .............................
      The Metal acting in part as a base with Strychnia—Strychnia  and
         Copper,..................................................
Double Sulphate of Copper and Strychnia,.............................
      Strychnia and Platinum,..................•...................
Hydrochlorate of Strychnia and Platinum, ...........................  37
      Strychnia and Mercury,.......................................
Hv.lrochlorate of Strychnia and Mercury, ............................
                                                                      qo
Hvdrocvaiiiite        do.        do.,     ............................
                                                                      38
      Strychnia and Iron,..........................................
Hydriodate of Strychnia and Iron,...................................   °° 
STRYCHNIA.
  History.—This alkaloid, called  also Vauquelina and Tetanine, was
discovered in 1818  by Pelletier and Caventou.   It is found in  the
Strychnos Nux Vomica, S. Ignatia, S.  Colubrina, &c.  It is for the most
part united with another  alkaloidal  principle,  Brucia,  and both  are
combined with an acid, the Strychnic or Igasuric.  It is the active prin-
ciple of these  plants,  and is the  agent  that  causes the fatal  effects
in death  resulting  from ingestion  of Nux vomica, Ignatius  bean, and
of false Angustura  bark.   Brucia is  even said  to  be merely strychnia
combined with  coloring matter.
  Preparation.—It is chiefly obtained from nux vomica bean.   The
different Pharmacopoeias give a method for its preparation.   The most
common plan is to  make two  decoctions of the coarse powder of  the
seeds, or digest it in water acidulated  with  sulphuric acid—the latter is
the most preferable—and  to  this lime is  added, which combines with
strychnic and sulphuric acids, leaving strychnia and brucia free.  All  fall
down.   The alkaloids are separated from the precipitate by alchohol;
they are again  converted  into sulphates, and are isolated by ammonia;
they are furthermore dissolved in hot alcohol and decolorized, and  the
solution, upon cooling,  deposits the  strychnia, while the  brucia remains
dissolved.
  Molyn's method is to subject the  powder to  fermentation with  yeast
for  10 days, thereby facilitating the subsequent process.  This is proposed
on account of the mucilage which the seeds contain, causing the decom-
position  of the saccharic  and  gummy constituents, evolving carbonic
acid, and forming lactic acid,  which, acting on the strychnate, forms  the
soluble  lactates of the alkaloids.
  The seeds generally contain one part of  the  alkaloid  in 200, but  the
St. Ignatius  bean  yields 1.4 per cent., according to Christison.
                                 B 
10
   I have prepared this alkaloid in a different manner, by adding, to  the
acidified decoction, iodine dissolved in iodide of potassium. An insoluble
compound is thrown down, from which the iodine may be abstracted by
liquor  potassse;  this, when decolorized, may be crj>tallized from its
solution in alcohol.  In this method the iodine may be all saved, as it
..•an be easily separated from the filtered solution.   Bromine appears to
act similarly to iodine in this respect.
   From  analogy, I should think that  chlorine might be economically
used instead of either of the two substances previously mentioned.  The
great difficulty appears to be its application in the gaseous condition.  I
)< ive found, however, that by treating the acid decoction  with chloride
(hypochlorite) of soda, (made  by precipitation from hypochlorite of lime
and  carbonate of soda) which, when washed and dried, is to be  acted
on by  liq. potass., although liq. soda would  answer the same purpose,
the precipitate appearsoto dissolve when the alkali is added,  but  the
strychnia falls to the bottom in flocculent masses.   It should be collected
a:,d decolorized in the usual manner, and then crystallized from  alcohol,
or from solution of a sulphate as a salt.
   In these processes  I prefer the hypochlorite of  soda formed by preci-
pitating the  lime  from  the solution of the hypochlorite by carbonate of
soda.   This  preparation is far superior to the common article, in being
much  purer, because when chlorine gas is  conductel into solution of
carSonate of soda only half of the base unites with the cblorine, the other
existing as bicarbonate of the alkali, and thus is rendered so far impure ;
and in general it is a much weaker compound, on account of the diffi-
culty in causing the chlorine to be absorbed, which is not the case with
lime in the  form of caustic hydrate.  I find it almost impossible to pre-
cipitate strychnia in  the acidified decoction by the common preparation,
although readily affected by the other solution.
   While engaged with these  preparations, I was  led to believe that the
chemical constitution of hypochlorite of soda is different from  that gene-
rally received, and that in reality it is a chloruretted chloride of sodium,
or a solution of chlorine in chloride of sodium, with other compounds
of these elements existing as impurities from faulty manufacture, thus
resembling the ioduretted iodide of potassium.  When  chlorine  is con-
ducted into  a  solution  of  soda, chloride of sodium and chlorate  of soda
are first formedvand  then free chlorine remains in the liquid,  Hypochlo-
rous acid is  also formed, and appears to be due to the action  of  chlorine
on chlorate  of the alkali, and  not, as has been said, to the union of its
oxygen with the haloid  radical directly, because combination does not
occur unless the elements have been some  time  acting on one  another, 
11
and upon  the  addition of an acid, as the sulphuric, chlorine gas, almost
pure, is evolved.
   Sensible  Properties.—When pure, strychnia is a crystalline sub-
stance—white, inodorous, and intensely bitter ;  when rapidly crystallized
it is granular, but by the spontaneous evaporation of the alcoholic solution
it takes the form of the octohsedron or four-sided prism.  It is fusible,
but not volatile.  The  bitterness  is such, that 1 part is distinguishable
in 80.000  of water.
    Chemical  Characters.—Equivalent  weight, 334.   Composition,
C42H22NJ2 oi (Regnault),  O»HieN03 (Liebig).  It is  very insoluble in
water, requiring 6667  parts for  complete solution  at  50° F., equal to
about 14 ounces of water for each grain;  of  boiling water it  requires
2200 parts.  It is almost insoluble in  absolute alcohol or ether when in
its free state, but more  soluble in  common alcohol; by heating,  tin's pro-
perty is still farther increased.  It is also moderately soluble in fixed and
volatile oils.   As an alkaloid it saturates acids, and even displaces other
vegetable bases, as brucia and morphia, and  also some metallic oxides are
partly separated from their combinations with acids forming double salts.
It is destroyed  by a heat under  that of redness.  Sulphuretted hydrogen
is evolved when it is fused with  sulphur.   It is very soluble in  diluted
acids, forming salts.  The common strychnia is reddened  by nitric  acid,
but if pure is unaffected:  the color is due to  the action of the acid on
brucia.
   Tests.—1st.* It is found crystallized in short prisms, or as a greyish
powder with a  bitter taste.   2nd.  Scarcely soluble in alcohol and water,
and slightly so in ether, but readily in acetic acid.   3rd. Heated on
platinum  foil it burns, becomes  charred", evolving  a smoky flame and
poisonous vapour, leaving a residue of carbon.   4th.  Nitric acid reddens
it, without evolving  nitrous  acid.  5th. Soluble in diluted acids, and
from  a  hot solution crystals may be deposited on  cooling.  6th. The
solution is precipitated by tannic acid or tincture of galls.  7th. Alkalies,
as ammonia, give a white precipitate.   8th.  It is precipitated yellowish-
white  by  terchloride  of gold,  whereas  morphia reduces  gold.   The
precipitate with gold is not re-dissolved  by boiling, but the liquid acquires
a pink-red color, and on the other hand morphia gives the metallic  gold
in powder.  9th. The red color by nitric acid is discharged by chloride
of tin.  10th. It is unaffected by sesquichloride of iron or iodic acid and
starch ; it is thus also distinguished from morphia.  11th. Potash  pre-
cipitates the alkaloid from its salt, and it is not easily re-dissolved by
• These tests are taken from Taylor's " Medical Jurisprudence." 
12
excess of precipitants, whereas morphia is only precipitated from a strong
solution, and it is easily dissolved  by slight excess of potassa.   12th.
Strong sulphuric acid  produces no change  of colour in pure strychnia,
but if a drop of solution of bichromate of potash be added, the mixture
acquires a crimson hue, passing to deep blood-red;  or if, instead  of the
bichromate,  either the the deutoxides of manganese or  lead be added, a
very nice  play of colors  is produced, which passes through shades of
blue, violet,  purple, and crimson, to blood-red.  I do not think  that the
bichromate  answers as well as either  of the others,  because the acid
causes a colour with it much like  what strychnia produces, and in weak
solutions this might be a fallacy that is  not liable to be met when the
others  are used.  Morphia causes a green-tinted fluid with these tests.
13th. White tinted  precipitates are caused  by iodide of potassium, and
the sulphocyanide of  this same base gives  white crystals.   Solution of
bichloride of platinum gives a yellow powder.
   There is a newer test than  these, the  active agent of which is elec-
tricity.  When the two  poles of a  powerful  battery are  brought in
contact in the fluid  containing strychnia, placed within a  depression on
a piece of platinum foil, a series of colours are produced.
   In reality we have no good test for  strychnia in solution upon which
we can rely  in difficulty.  This was clearly evident in the trial of Palmer
for poisoning Cooke  by strychnia, where the presence of this  alkaloid
could not be proved.
   Nevertheless strychnia is a substance which  has really marked and
peculiar chemical qualities :  it is a base easily separated from the com-
bination in  nux vomica, and  by no means hypothetical, like methyl,
acetyl, etc.  Remembering these facts, and that it forms distinct com-
pounds with numerous and varied elements, that through them,  it may
be separated from complex mixtures, whether mechanical or even che-
mical,  and  that it gives  distinctive  reactions with  various  agents
at  the command of the practical chemist, either as  regards colour  or
precipitate,  or both, I commenced a few investigations with regard to
its chemical properties, to find  if it would not be possible to detect
small  quantities, and  be able to separate  it from organic mixtures, by
some newer and more certain method than those in vogue.  As  far as I
am able to judge, I have found out a method by which I can accomplish
these ends, and likewise detect some of the other alkaloids.   It is a very
simple one, and I trust will be found  useful.   I found that by a certain
re-agent with which  I was manipulating, a deep brick-red or  brown-
coloured precipitate was thrown  down from a solution of strychnia, but
caused no change with the mineral acids, sulphuric, nitric, hydrochloric, 
13
or phosphoric, nor none with the acetic, oxalic, or hydrocyanic.  No
similar effect was produced in any metallic solution or compound, and I
tried all the common bases,  alkaline and mineral, nor in  a solution of
sugar or dextrine.   The  alkaloidal  precipitate is deposited in all acid
solutions (except that of the nitric if strong).  It is decomposed when
boiled with the other strong mineral acids.
   The only objections  are, that quinine and  veratrine give somewhat
similar precipitates, but morphia produces no visible change.
   The veratria precipitate may appear similar at first, but becomes of a
light yellow colour when washed and dried.   That with quinine is very
dark brown ;  whereas  that with strychnia is a tint  between the other
two, or brick-red.  Bebeerine causes a precipitate very similar to quinine
and very difficult to distinguish  from it.  Santonine gives no apparent
re-action.   The strychnia precipitate is easily distinguished by compari-
son with the others, and more surely by a method to  be mentioned in
another place.
   The re-agent used, and above referred to, was the saturated solution
of iodine in a solution of iodide of potassium, diluted so as to present a
cherry-red  tint.   The  iodine will  not act  in the compound state, or I
should rather say  as an iodide, because it then gives another kind of
precipitate, the iodide of strychnia, which is a white crystalline salt.
   The ioduretted solution is to be added drop by drop to the strychnia.
As each one arrives at the bottom of the test-tube, it appears to be fringed
by a ditty-white precipitate, which when agitated,  acquires a brownish
colour.  Upon standing,  a sediment of the same tint subsides from this
mixture ; unless in a very dilute solution, when  it  remains  suspended,
causing a muddy appearance.  This  differs materially  from the effect it
causes with water ; then, only, the drop falls to the bottom, without even
tinging the fluid, and  when  shaken up, gives  a transparent  solution of
the peculiar iodine tinge; no further change resulting as the  iodine is
soluble in the iodide of potassium which is present.
   If the re-agent be added to a strychnia solution, in which blood exists,
the colour of the precipitate is masked ;  but, if much  of the alkaloid be
present, it can be easily  distinguished, and if allowed to  stand, will fall
to the bottom, and, upon being collected, its nature can be determined.
   The bitter infusions give no re-action with the test, and in them strych-
nia can be detected without any difficulty.
   If the strychnia precipitate be acted on by strong sulphuric acid, it
becomes brownish-yellow.  That with veratria, gives with  the same acid,
a beautiful play of colours, first yellow, next red,  and then violet.  Quina
and bebeerina similarly acted on become greyish-brown. 
14
    Strong nitric acid produces nothing  characteristic with  either,  and
 there is the same absence of distinguishing change when sulphuric acid
 and bichromate of potash are used.  But, if in place of the last-mentioned
 salt, binoxide of manganese be used, the strychnia precipitate becomes
 first purple inclining to red, then  reddish-brown ;  at  other times  a
 greater play of colours is elicited, but with veratria, bebeerina and quina
 nothing remarkable is visible.
    Another test previously mentioned, as applied to the solid substance,
 which I have found yielding valuable information, is sulphuric acid and
 a solution of bichromate of potash  added  to a very dilute  solution of
 strychnia.  I prepare this test by adding to  an ounce of water as  much
 of a saturated solution of the salt just named as will render the whole of
 a light straw yellow colour, say about 16 drops, and then about 50 drops
 of the acid.  To a part of this mixture the liquid, containing strychnia?
 is to be added and then  boiled ;  at first  there is no change, but  as  the
 fluid becomes hotter, the colour becomes gradually deeper in tint and
 finally blood-red.  If the desired alteration be not brought about, it may
 be hastened by  a few drops of sulphuric acid.  If the solution of strych-
 nia be very dilute, it will be better to add the proper amount of acid and
 salt directly to it and then proceed as in the former case ;  but sometimes
 the fluid will  require  to be  boiled for a  good while, even  several
 minute*, before  any  change becomes visible, and sometimes  it will not
 form until it cools, but then it is not generally well marked.
   It may be said that sulphuric acid will cause this change by acting on
 the solution of bichromate, even when no strychnia is present.  To effect
 this, however, both agents must exist in very large quantity, and even
 then the colour  differs much,  being  lighter and inclining to a rose tint;
 but if  it be merely of the strength mentioned there is no visible change
 even after prolonged ebullition.  This test it will be observed differs from
 the same  ap  ligation of the same re-agent to solid strychnia  in  several
 points, as in the requirement of heat, &c.; and of the two it is the most
 delicate.
   I have  not yet found any substance that will give the same result with
 this mixture that strychnia  does.  It is  bleached by morphia and after
 a  time the  green oxide of chrome  is precipitated.  Veratria causes no
 change nor does quina.   Neither blood, sugar, starch, nor dextrine give
 any appearances that constitute an objection.   Iodine, sugar, and most
organic liquids dissipate the colour  of the  solution.  Chloride of lime
has the same effect.   Santonine, bebeerine,  the  alkalies, acids, and  all
others  I have tried appear to be equally negative.
  If the iodine test be added to the bichromate test, when reddened by 
15
strychnia,  a dense reddish brown precipitate falls, but if added to  one
containing no strychnia a dark green is formed.
  Liebig mentions that if chlorine be added to a solution of this alka-
loid it causes a white precipitate and that bromine  acts similarly.  I
have found that a watery solution of bromine  gives a yellowish tinted
precipitate with strychnia, but it is not more than one fourth as delicate
as that of iodine, resulting probably from the light colour which is given
by  it in  contradistinction  to the brown afforded by the ioduretted solu-
tion, neither is there the same opacity of the mixture produced  with the
former as with the latter.  I have not found that solution of chlorine gas
gives nearly so well-marked a re-action as that of the chloruretted solu-
tion before mentioned.   It. might have the advantage of decolorizing or-
ganic  liquid, but as a tist is not at all  desirable.
   Delicacy of Tests.—With  the ioduretted solution I can detect one
grain in solution in four pints of ordinary water, and in pure water by
comparison I can discover the presence of one grain in  a gallon of ihe
fluid.  In this case the liquid becomes milky from the precipitate being
suspended in it, and it is so light that it will scarcely fall to the bottom,
and if we allow that the ounce of water weighs 500 grains, then one part
of strychnia can be thus detected in 64,000 of water nearly.  I have even
been sensible of its presence in solutions much  weaker than these.
   With the bichromate  solution test I find it is difficult to distinguish
one part in 16,000 of water.   This test is  most distinctive  and can be
relied  on if the proper change appears, but this will not be brought about
if any organic compound be present at the time ; even the presence of a
little alcohol being enough to mask that of the alkaloid.
   Experiments on Animals.—I poisoned a chicken with the cyanide of
strychnia.   At first I gave it the Jyth of a grain and  in two  hours ^th
more; in twenty-four hours it got y'gth of a  grain, and in twenty-four
hours or thereabouts, after it had  recovered from the previous effects, I
gave it the £th of a grain, which caused death.' I then separately boiled
in  water, acidulated with  sulphuric acid, the  contents  of  the  crop, the
 membrane itself, the intestines,  the liver, the  lungs, the brain, and the
 spinal cord.  After removing any great excess of the  acid by carbonate
 of lime I tried all the tests for the alkaloid, but failed in getting any re-
 liable result.  The bichromate  solution  was decolorized, a*d the iodine
 test gave the appearances to be  mentioned in  a subsequent page, which
 rendered it impossible  to be certain  of the product, the  liquids be: :.g
 very high coloured.  Tincture of  gulls gave a precipitate, but  that  >.;s
 caused by the gelatine present.
    The solutions were then evaporated until almost dry, and this extract 
16
digested in strong alcohol for some days.  This solution was evaporated
also until most of the alcohol had disappeared; to this water was added,
which dissolved the salt of strychnia in solution, but threw down some
white matter insoluble in  that  fluid.   To the filtered products these
tests were applied.
  (1).  The ioduretted solution.   It caused the characteristic precipitate
vhich was  proved to be strychnia  by sulphuric  acid  and binoxide of
manganese, or Marchand's test, so that no room could be left for doubt-
Another portion of this, by a method to be mentioned, yielded the alka-
1 /idal strychnia and was  recognised to be such by the tests given from
Taylor.
  (2).  The bichromate test.   This  gave nothing decided, perhaps from
a small quantity of orgauic  matter being present, which threw down the
green oxide of chrome.  In adding to this the  iodine test the strychnia
was separated as easily as though it had been a simple solution.
  (3).  The taste was found to be bitter.
  (4).  An alkali (potash) did not cause any appreciable precipitate.
  (5). Tannic acid produced a white curdy precipitate which on re-solution
by sulphuric acid was proved to be strychnia.  The evidence of the pre-
sence of the alkaloid in the liver was well marked, and also in the intes-
tines, but not to the same  extent.   But  the largest quantity was  found
in the crop, as might be supposed.  This part contained rather a homo-
geneous mixture, and was  quite filled.   The diluted acid extract was a
tenacious, gummy mass, of a dark colour. The others  were much simi-
lar.
  I also examined the lungs, brain,  and spinal cord—each separately—
but was not able to detect the presence of the poison.
  I afterwards examined the stomach  of a kitten poisoned by T\th of a
grain of the acetate.  It contained bread, meat, and coagulated milk; upon
these being similarly treated,  as  in the first experiment, a thick muddy
liquid was separated.   To this mixed  solution  the iodine te3t was added,
and I thought I could detect the peculiar fringed border when first added,
but on shaking it up there was nothing distinguishable other than what
is seen in  most organic mixtures.  To  this  liquor potass, was added,
which  had no other effect than decolorizing the mixtute and decomposing
the strychnia, compound.  In a little while the alkaloid fell down  as
usual,  and was proved to be such  by Marchand's test,  thus doing away
with the trouble of evaporating the solution and then again dissolving.
The precipitate was also proved by the  bichromate solution  test.
  Another kitten  was poisoned  by the double chloride of mercury and
strychnia.  The quantity given  I do  not think  could have exceeded 
17
Jffth of a grain.  The  contents of the stomach were  treated as in the
former.  The iodine test was added to a small quantity of  the filtered
products, which caused a change similar to that last described.  When
the potassa was added all the precipitate disappeared.  To render the
mixture more liquid, water was added. Nothing was seen for  some hours,
but gradually a very light fiocculent  precipitate appeared and gradually
sank to the bottom.  This  was proved to be the alkaloid by  Marchand's
and the bichromate test.  When  a precipitate  forms  after the addition
of potassa it appears to be almost distinctive of strychnia.
   From the liver of an animal, poisoned with about the same amount of
the same salt, several hours after it had been  taken,  when  treated in a
manner similar to the  others, evidence of the presence of the alkaloid
was also procured although I only used about the J„ th part of the filtered
product.  This precipitate was  washed three or four times and the play
of colours with Marchand's test was very delicate, but yet distinctive.
Evidence was also afforded with the bichromate test which became visi-
bly reddened.   When instead of the precipitate I used the filtered liquid
this solution was decolorized.
   I should think, judging from these few experiments, strychnia can be
detected in very minute quantities well, when existing in heterogeneous
mixtures  and in complicated  chemical  compounds.   In the first case
mentioned, two weeks elapsed  between the  death of the animal and the
detection of the poison.  Strychnia is not easily decomposed at common
temperatures.  It has  even been  found in the urine, and in soma cases
I have boiled  the organic  mixtures containing it for very  many  hours
without affecting it.
   Detection'  of  Strychnia  in Organic  Liquids.—The method of
procedure  in  this  case is  similar in design to that  pursued with most
other  poisons.  By boiling the stomach and  contents, or any of the vis-
cera,  as the liver in water, acidified by sulphuric acid, a liquid may be
obtained from which the alkaloid may be separated by evaporation con-
ducted almost to dryness, and then  acting on it with alcohol which will
dissolve the salt of strychnia.   If now the alcohol be driven off, the al-
kaloid will  be left almost pure, as detailed in one of the cases in the last
section.
   The action  of these liquids on the iodine test does not in general vary
very much.  When first added it appears to separate in flakes, the iodide
of gelatine, as if  coagulated, and the rest of the  fluid is tinged with it;
and in a little while there is a precipitate which sometimes very  much
resembles that with the alkaloid ; but when it is not present, liq. potass
dissolves them all and decolorizes the fluid,  although sometimes heat is 
18
 required to effect this object, and even if any were to remain it would not
 give the distinctive re-action with Marchand's test.  If the iodine test be
 added to a warm solution of gelatine a  re-action similar  to that  with
 strychnia appears;  but this is no  objection, because when it  is boiled it
 becomes liquid, and again on cooling gelatinizes ; and if potassa be added
 to it, it is readily dissolved and decolorized.
   The bichromate solution test is almost invariably decolorized by or-
 ganic liquids.
   The  iodine test  will  not act  if the  strychnia be  in solution in al-
 cohol, because the precipitate is soluble in that fluid ;  but if it be diluted
 with water, or the alcohol be separated by evaporation, it will act  with
 its accustomed energy.
   The method now  most generally used for separating strychnia from
 organic solids, is to boil them for 15 or 20 minutes  in dilute  solution of
 oxalic acid.  This is then shaken up with sulphuric  ether, which has the
 property of separating the oxalate  of strychnia; and the ether being
 evaporated, will leave the salt in its  crystalline  form.  But I  think it
 would be more convenient to use chloroform instead of ether, because it
 has the same property, and from its greater  specific gravity, it would re-
 main at the bottom,  and could be  either separated by decantation or by
 pouring into a funnel and then allowing the chloroform to run off into a
 receptacle placed underneath  to receive it; but it is evident  this would
 only answer where the alkaloid was present in considerable  quantity.
   A method  much  more preferable, and giving less trouble, I have re
 ferrcd to in the previous section.   To  accomplish  this, first  make a de-
 coction of  the substances in diluted sulphuric acid, and, to the hetero-
 geneous and compound filtered mixture, add the iodine test, this causes
 an abundant  precipitate including the strychnia, then add strong solu-
 tion  of potassa to this, which will dissolve everything except the alkaloid,
 it only being set free and in this state will fall to the bottom of the  test-
 tube, which precipitate being washed and collected, can have the other
 distinctive  test applied to it.  This method has a great advantage, be-
 cause there will not likely be any loss, having few processes to go through
 which require filtration.
   Action  of Test  with Nux  Vomica.—A  simple infusion of the
seeds yielded nothing  very distinctive, but when acidified  by sulphuric
acid, the characteristic result was  obtained and proved  to be so by  Mar-
chand's test, and moreover I obtained the free alkaloid by potassa, which
on being dissolved  in  acetic acid, was precipitated by an alkali, tannic
acid, &c.
  The bichromate test gives with the infusion a green-coloured fluid,
caused by the separated oxide of chrome. 
19
  If we compare the present method of detecting strychnia in nux vomica
seed, with that above detailed, I think the advantage  in favour of the
latter will recommend it to preference.
  As the alkaloid only exists in the seed to the amount of a half per cent,
one hundred grains of the latter would be required to furnish half a
grain of the former.  The powder of the seeds has proved poisonous  in
doses even as small as fifteen grains (Dr. Traill) ; in thirty  grains taken
at two doses (Dr. Christison); fifty  grains  caused  death in two other
cases; and as the only method of proving that death was caused by this
drug is by detecting the presence of the alkaloid, great difficulties exist
in the way of verifying the fact.   Taylor in his work on Poisons recom-
mends us to digest the powder in alcohol, and from  this obtain an ex-
tract  which is to be boiled in water with calcined magnesia.   The alka-
loids  being precipitated by the alkaline earth, are taken up by digesting
in boiling alcohol, and then obtained from  this in the usual way.  It
may be easily conceived that this  process would not be likely to yield
the desired product when only  from thirty to fifty grains are to be ope-
rated upon ; whereas by the Iodine test it can be precipitated directly from
the  diluted acid decoction,  and the Iodine  separated by Potassa.   I
should therefore think at least that there would be  less room for mis-
take in the latter method.
   Strychnia  re-obtained  from Compound Solution.—If the com-
pound  of Strychnia and Iodine  which  is,obtained in the precipitation
by the Iodine test be collected, washed, and dried,  a brownish powder is
obtained which if it be digested in Liq. Potassae, the Iodine is abstracted
by the alkali (as proved by the  starch  test) and the alkaloid is obtained
as a  whitish powder insoluble  in  either excess  of  alkali  or  alkaline
Iodide.  This may be proved to be Strychnia by its solubility in diluted
acids, its bitterness, and the play of colours caused by sulphuric acid and
binoxide of  manganese or lead.   I  have found that a strong solution of
Potassa is much  superior to Liquor  Ammonise" for abstracting  the
Iodine from the  compound powder, the alkaloid being obtained much
purer.   When  Ammonia is used,  heat  is  very  frequently required.
Stiychnia can also be obtained from the reddened solution, obtained by
the Bichromate test, by precipitating as usual by the Iodine, and collect-
 ing the brownish powder  which with  Potassa will give the accustomed
 reactions.
   It is remarkable that sulphuric  acid and binoxide of manganese will
 give  the play of colours as  well  with the precipitated Ioduretted Iodide
 as with the pure alkaloid.
   Physiological Effects.—1.  On Vegetables.—It is poisonous to all
 classes of plants. 
20
  2. On Animals.—It is equally destructive to animals of every species.
  Its effects on the vertebrata are very uniform ; although the carnivora
are more affected by it than the herbivora, being in this respect similar
to belladonna and stramonium—thus, half a grain will kill a  dog, but
a much larger than a proportional  quantity will be required  to  kill a
horse.   The bird called  the  Buceros  Rhinoceros  is said to  eat the
Strychnos nuts with impunity.
  I placed the Jyth of a grain on the tongue of a kitten, it walked  about
apparently unconcerned for  18 minutes, about that time it had  spas-
modic  contractions of all the limbs, the legs were  set out as props to
keep it from falling.  The whole body became rigid  and respiration was
rendered impossible by the contractions of the muscles of the chest.  In
about  two minutes it became  again quite  flaccid,  and breathed with
apparent ease for a few seconds, when the spasmodic action again com-
menced.  This continued for eight or  ten  minutes when  death super-
vened.  The body remained quite flaccid after death.
  I put rather  less than \ of-a grain into the cellular  tissue of the fore
leg of another kitten of the same age :  it was not  affected for about ten
minutes, after  which  the spasms  came on.  The  contractions of the
muscles appeared to be more violent than in the previous case and  death
happened much sooner.  The  body was likewise flaccid and  not rigid.
  A pigeon took about the r\ of  a grain  on a piece of  toast, it flew,
away unaffected, but in 15 minutes returned and took \ of a grain  more,
after which it  remained picking about  for four or five minutes when it
began  to be a  little irregular in its movements appearing as though the
legs were tied, this  increased gradually ; it flew away as usual, but just
on reaching the top of a house it fell as if shot, after a while it flew for
20 feet farther when it again fell.  The spasms did  not appear to come
on very often ;  finally the head was bent directly round on the back, and
the tail became  depressed, and  the head bent forwards again, and the
bill rested on the ground, the eyes closed and it then died.   It had
also the same difficulty of breathing, and the same want of rigidity after
death,—being in all these cases different from the spasmodic fixedness of
the muscles after death in the human subject.
   3. On  Man.—Three degrees  of operation  of Nux  Vomica may be
admitted.  I.  Increase of tone and diuresis.  II. Rigidity and convul-
sive contractions of the muscles.   III.  Tetanus, asphyxia and death.
   I. The effects of  Strychnia are very  similar to those of  Nux Vomica.
Although I am not aware that it acts  as a diuretic, it has  been found
in the urine, and if so it may produce diuresis.   It is undoubtedly  a very
powerful tonic; as seen in its  power of arresting the attacks of  ague, 
21
and of strengthening the coats of the bowels and preventing constipa-
tion.
  II.  The effects of the alkaloid in the second degree precisely resemble
those of Nux Vomica—although a less quantity of the latter is requir-
ed  to cause  spasmodic action than  of the former, if we be guided
by the proportion  of Strychnia which is supposed to exist in it.   The
pulse does not appear to be much affected, although  it is said to be in-
creased during the convulsive attacks.
  III. The third degree of operation is similar in both, each  producing
tetanus, asphyxia and death.  The lower jaw in the inferior animals does
not appear to be so violently closed, as accounts of fatal cases in the
human subject would  lead us to suspect.   It is  closed  no doubt when
there is a general spasm of all  the  muscles; but when it has a local
action, merely, the jaws appear in general to be under the control of the
will, because they are  opened and closed in  the ineffectual  efforts to res-
pire,  taking  in a mouthful of  air and  trying to force it into  the  lungs
when the respiratory muscles fail to act.  The similarity in the physio-
logical effects between Strychnine and  Nux Vomica were very  well ex-
emplified in  the fatal case of John Parsons Cook,  which happened in
 1856, his  symptoms  being similar to  those described by Pariera :  he
 was unable to turn  in bed  without bringing on violent paroxysms, or to
be  handled or even spoken to, without a dread of the fatal spasms com-
ing on.  He had to keep perfectly still.
   Post Mortem Appearances.—After death in the human subject the
body remains very  rigid—this was one of the  prominent  symptoms in
Cooke's case.  It also existed in the  case of a young woman poisoned
with Nux Vomica,  reported by Mr. Oilier.  That this does not occur in
the lower animals is generally admitted, which shows that it must affect
their  muscular systems differently.  Venous congestion is observed in
 all these cases which may  be expected as a result of  obstructed circula-
tion through the lungs.  Occasionally there is a slight redness or inflam-
mation of the alimentary canal, and at times softening of the brain and
 spinal cord, but these are not very fully substantiated.
   Modus  Operandi.—When Stiychnia is introduced beneath the skin
 it is a  local  irritant, although it produces  its  constitutional effects  by
 absorption or nervous influence.  In one of the  animals  experimented
 on I found a  large space  inflamed where I had put ?'T of a grain  of
 Strychnia  2  to 3 days previously.  When  the alkaloid was introduced
 I moved  the  skin  over  the  subjacent muscles  so  that  it might  be
 diffused across  their  surface without being wounded by the knife.   I
 subsequently found that the inflammatory action was  only excited where 
22
the alkaloid was in contact.  There  is no doubt but it will act as  an
irritant in  the stomach and cause vomiting,  although this symptom is
not always present.  Pareira says Strychnia is absorbed, and it must be,
as it has  been found in  the urine,  and I  have detected it  in  the
liver ;  but I can  scarcely believe that it acts only by  absorption,  be-
cause,  in all the case3  that I examined, I  found  that when death came
on very rapidly the poison  remained intact  in  the stomach,  even the
colour  was unaffected, and this could be easily detected when I used the
Ioduretted  Iodide, the  similar  compounds with  Bromine, and also the
double chloride of Strychnia and platinum, all of  which are extremely
insoluble preparations.   Each of these  has a  distinct colour and each
was detected unchanged, apparently, in the several cases, and in some
the dose was very minute.   I think that if it were only the exceedingly
small quantity which could have been absorbed that acted, death would
have scarcely happened so soon.  About one-third of a  grain caused
death in a few minutes, and the greater part  by  far, as near as it could
be judged, still remained within  the  folds of  mucous membrane, rolled
up in the bolus  in  which  it was given.   In another case, I found the
scales of the platinum salt  lying along the back of  the pharynx, gullet,
and cardiac orifice, seeming not even to have passed into the stomach,
as it was given in butter,  which adhered  to the mucous membrane in
its passage downwards.
  Again, when  it is applied endermically, it acts much  quicker than
when given by the stomach; and if absorbed, it could scarcely be assi-
milated in so short a  time. These insoluble  preparations do not cause
any inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach, nor cono-es-
tion in any part,  in so short a time.  It  appears to act similarly to Prus-
sic Acid, contact being  sufficient.  This acid will act even if applied to
the unabraded skin in its pure  state as well as the conjuctiva— surfaces
which  do not  absorb as readily as some  others.   In similarity, Strych-
nia will act if merely applied to the  mucous  membrane of the mouth;
and this is rather an excretory than an absorbing surface.
  From what I have seen, I am lei  to believe that either of these poi-
sons  will act w'erever  applied, provided the part be supplied with  sen-
tient nerves, upon the  extremitv of which the tonic impression  is first
made, and transmitted  thence through the sensory  nerves to the spinal
cord.   Here the effect communicated must be very powerful, otherwise
the cord would not  be  irritated in such  a manner as to excite  all the
motor nerves proceeding from  it with  such a deadly result.   But the
reason why, or how it is  done, is a mystery which  has  not yet been
solved. 
23
  From appearances, the cerebrum is not, or but little, affected at first;
it is so, most likely,  towards the close  of the  scene; because the con-
gestion of the  venous system will, by  the pressure caused on the cere-
brum, affect all the  nerves leaving it, and  will appear to be narcotic.
From what has been said, I think that when it acts as a poison in a very
short time, or if a large dose have been given, it acts through the nerves
of sensation;  and  if it be  some time in acting,  or small  doses  fre-
quently repeated, then it will cause  death by absorption and conveyance
to the nervous  centres.
   It cannot be doubted but Strychnia affects  the spinal cord, and that
portion of it called  the " anterior columns," as proved by Matteuci and
Majendie; and that it is not solely  due to its  local action on the mus-
cles, but that they only obey the nervous stimulus,  although  it is stated
that the  alkaloid has been detected  in their tissue. It can also be proved
in another way that  it acts on the cord, because even complete decol-
lation will not  prevent  the spasms; but they cease at once if a  piece of
whalebone be passed down the canal so as to destroy the cord. If, how-
ever, but a portion be thus injured, then only the muscles that receive
their nervous supply from  this part will be unaffected by the poison ;  the
part untouched being affected as usual.
   Segalas, from  his  experiments, concluded that the irritability of the
heart was exhausted.  It  has a peculiar action on  paralysed  muscles
which has been differently explained, but not yet satisfactorily.   These
muscles  are generally affected before the sound ones, and  sometimes it
is the reverse.  It  is supposed to prove fatal both by exhaustion, and
stoppage of respiration  from spasm of the respiratory muscles.
   Uses.—it is chiefly used in paralysis; but should be withheld, if recent
and resulting from apoplexy, when  the  clot  is still supposed  to exist.
There are cases on  record in which it has been said to have caused in-
flammation of the brain when given at  an improper period.   Neverthe-
less, it is useful in paralysis resulting from apoplexy, where the clots have
become  absorbed and  the muscles,  from long want of use, refuse to
obey the nervous  stimulus.  Iu these  cases, it can do  no harm when
properly given, because all the parts are  in a healthy state; and, when
the muscles are excited, they gradually come to acknowledge the nervous
sway to  which they have been long unaccustomed.
   It is also useful in other nervous affections, as Chorea, Epilepsy, Hys-
 teria, Neuralgia, and Hypochondriasis.   It has  been given  in  Tetanus
 without increasing the  convulsions.  It is also used in Dyspeptic affec-
tions as  pyrosis and gastrodynia; also in Colica Pictonum combined
 with morphia, in Prolapse of the rectum, in Borborygmi, in Dysentery 
24
and constipated bowels.  In the last case, it is used when the retention of
the faeces  is due to a deficient tonicity of the muscular coat of the bow-
els.  It is contraindicated in febrile states of the system.   Dr.  Wright
(Professor  of'Materia Medica,  McGill College,  Montreal) recommends
it to be preceded by purgatives, local depletion, and a slight mercurial-
ism, in paralytic affections resulting from apoplexy.   He says it is very
beneficial in paralysis resulting from rheumatism,'or the mineral  poisons,
as lead, arsenic, &c.  He recommends it  to be  administered locally in
amaurosis, as a weak solution applied by way  of friction, over the tem-
ple, or behind the ear, ot to the nucha; or these parts may be first blis-
tered, and then either dusted with the powder or  moistened with the
solution.  He also speaks well of it in Spermatorrhoea, impotence, chronic
Diarrhoea, Diabetes ; and, as a tonic for persons  of sedentary habits, and
nervous individuals,  he also believes it often is suitable.
   Dr. Fraser (Professor of Institutes of Medicine, McGill College) recom-
mends it in cases of deficient tonicitv  of the whole system,  100th part of
a grain, with ten drops of Tinct. Ferri Muriatis, given three times a day.
The mixture acts not only as a tonic and neurotic, but also as a hsema-
tinic, which in these cases is  always indicated.
   Administration.—As a tonic it should be given in doses of from  T£^th
to Jffth of a grain, and  as  a  neurotic from  J^th to TVh.  It is best ex-
hibited as a liquid combined  with an  acid, as the acetic, to promote  its
solubility.   When given in the form of pill  it  is much more difficult to
be certain  of its equal division.   The doses of its salts are similar to that
of the alkaloid.  It is first to bo given in small  doses, and  by gradually
increasing them, the constitutional action may be brought out.
   Antidote.—The contents of the stomach arc to be evacuated as quickly
as possible, where either  strychnia or any of its salts have been  taken,
because no chemical antidote is known. Probably astringents, as tannin,
green tea, infusion of galls, <fec, would be the best (Pareira).
   Donne  regards chlorine, iodine, and bromine as antidotes for strych-
nia ;  but  of their merits a fuller opinion will be  stated farther on.
   Emmerst, a German author, says that vinegar and coffee increased the
poisonous effects of  nux vomica bark.  Narcotics may be  employed to
 relieve the spasms, as opium and conium. Conia, being the  counterpart of
 strychnia, has been supposed to be  a physiological antidote.  Pareira
 applied some of it to a  wound in a rabbit affected with tetanus  resulting
 from strychnia.   The spasms ceased, but the animal died.   Buchner has
 recommended ether and oil  of turpentine.  When by the endermic use
 of strychnia it has  acted too powerfully, acetate of morphia applied to
 the same  part has  given relief.  Pr. Simpson  says that chloroform de- 
25
lays and even prevents the spasms of strychnia, and I think that this will
be the most convenient and efficacious of any.
  I have enquired into the antidotes mentioned by Donne ; and first, as
regards  chlorine, I do not think that this agent  would answer  a very
good purpose,  as it would be difficult to administer, and the affinity ex-
isting between the principles is not so great as  to hold out much  chance
of success.   If used by inhalation it would act  merely as a stimulant and
not as a chemical antidote.   It could not act  chemically, because both
the chloride and ohloruretted chloride are fully as  powerful as the pure
alkaloid itself.
  Iodine, however, we must not pass over so lightly, for seeing the very
insoluble substances which is formed with it, we would a priori consider
it of  much importance; but this insoluble precipitate is as powerfully
poisonous as the alkaloidal base.   I gave a kitten the T^th of a grain of
strychnia, dissolved in acetic acid, and immediately afterwards \ a drachm
of the ioduretted  solution, nevertheless the kitten died in  the usual time
and with the ordinary symptoms.
  It may be objected to  by saying that it was not so administered that
the antidote might come in contact with the poison ; but to answer this
I precipitated some strychnia with the iodine compound, washed and dried
it.  I then  gave about one-third of a grain of this. The spasms, however,
came on in the usual time, and with the accustomed severity, and proved
fatal.   After  examining the stomach  I  found  the  particles  adhering
around  the cardiac orifice, and scarcely a trace in any other place.  About
*• of what was given  was found rolled  up in the  bolus in which it was
taken, and not in contact  with the walls of  the stomach at all.  And
hence but a very  small quantity of the poison acted.  Judging from this
fact, iodine can scarcely be supposed to be a chemical antidote,  and for it
to act physiologically is almost impossible. From the activity of the agent
opposed to it, for to be of any use, it should act as quickly as the alka-
loid itself.
   Bromine is the next mentioned;  and to show that it has but little if
any more power over the poison, I performed an analogous experiment. I
gave  about the TVth of a grain of bromiuretted bromide of strychnia, an
homologous compound with that of iodine, last referred to.  It began to
act in twenty  minutes, but not violently, and continued to do so every
ten or fifteen minutes for some hours.  I again gave the animal  about the
same quantity of the  substance in mixture with butter.   Fifteen minutes
afterwards, the spasms came on with great violence, and  death occurred
in about five minutes. On examination I found the poison between the
folds  of the corrugated mucous membrane of stomach.  I tried another
                                 c 
26
 very insoluble salt of strychnia,—the double chloride of platina and the
 alkaloid,—but its energy was even greater than that of any of the others.
   Since it is so difficult, if not impossible, to get any chemical antidote,
 I have thought that some agent might be met with which would counter-
 act it physiologically.
   Such an agent I expected to find in hydrocyanic acid: it\acts  in general
 in a contrary manner to that of strychnia, causing at times rather para-
 lysis than spasm.  Accordingly, I placed £th  of a grain  under the  skin
 of the back  of a cat,  and when the  convulsions became  apparent, and
 respirations  had almost ceased, I  poured some  of the acid on  the same
 spot.   In a  few seconds the spasms  ceased, and the  limbs, before rigid
 and inflexible, became quite flaccid.  The animal appeared to  be  pro-
 foundly narcotised, but it began  to  respire deeply; the  parietes of the
 chest expanding to the fullest, but the breathing was  very slow.  It re-
 mained in this state  for  several  minutes, but  gradually the respirations
 became weaker, and  soon ceased in death.  The effects in this  case were
 similar to those mentioned by Pareira, who used conia instead of prussic
 acid.   I tried the acid on others  that had taken the  alkaloid by the sto-
 mach ; but on account of the difficulty experienced in introducing the acid
 into the stomach, its physiological effects were not obtained.   However,
 considering  all things, I think,  with the exception  of chloroform  and
 conium, that prussic acid  is the best antidote we have got;  but  as neither
 the acid nor conium have been  very fully inquired into, their  relative
 merits can scarcely be  decided on.  Of the two prussic acid has the  ad-
 vantage, that it can always be easily obtained.  In its use we should not
 be too lavish, as it even exceeds strychnia in energy, and  should only be
 exhibited in  small quantities at a time, not enough to be directly poisonous.
 It should,if possible, be given immediately on the ingestion of the alkaloid,
 or as soon as possible afterwards.  It might have the  effect of deadening
 the sensibility of the stomach  to the action of the strychnia,  and thus
 allow of time to try  the  stomach-pump, or emetics if this were not  at
 hand.  These latter have not, however, been reported upon very favour-
 bly.  In extreme cases, a solution of tartar emetic might be injected into
 the veins, which would be a very  probable  means  of obtaining the de-
 sired result.
  If prussic  acid only were given, and it were successful  in preventing
 the spasms,  its action would be temporary, and should not be  trusted to
 alone.   It might  possibly have  the power, by continual exhibition in
small doses,  of only allowing a small  amount  to be absorbed at a time.
 If it were only given  after the poisonous effects became well marked, it
 would, in all probability,  relieve the intense pain which is endured, and 
27
 thus smooth the path to the grave.  It could not act chemically, because
 the hydrocyanate is fully as powerful a poison as the pure alkaloid.
   A great many  other antidotes have been recommended, as for example
 camphor; b»t its  chief benefits are those  of a simple narcotic and sti-
 mulant.   Lard also has  been much  spoken about in the journals of the
 day;  but it can act only mechanically, and must be taken in large quan-
 tities, and before any constitutional symptoms are present.  It is easy to
 conceive that it would be a good mechanical antidote, because it has  a
 consistence which would not admit any powder that it was mixed with,
 to act with gravity, but  rather enclose and keep it  in  strict incorpora-
 tion.   It is also very difficult to digest, and it would impede the alkaloid
 being taken up;  and furthermore, it would likewise greatly  assist emesis
 by coming up in bulk, carrying with it whatever substances were in ad-
 mixture  with it.  The objections to it are, that it must be given in large
 quantity, and that it has no innate power of chemically mixing with the
 poison;  and this latter  is a very serious objection, since the alkaloid,
 except in solution, tends to lodge in the folds of the mucous membrane.
   Olive  oil has been  recommended, but it  can merely act  as a demul-
 cent, and would not suspend the  poison, and if it were in solution,  the
 oil would float on  the top, and thus  effectually keep it in contact with
 the sensitive surface.
   Thick mucilage of gum  acacia I should think would  be  very useful,
 as it would mix with the alkaloid if in solution, and like lard would as-
 sist in vomiting; but it is  liable to be more speedily digested.
   Pastes made of flour or meal of any kind, or even bread made into  a
 paste with water, would I think supply the place of lard,  and act nearly
 as  well.   These have the  advantage  of being  always  procurable,  and
 will unite  readily with  the poison,  either solid or fluid ; but  they  are
 more readily digested.
   Salts of Strychnia.—They are for the most part, when pure, very
 bitter, white and crystalline; alkalies, and their carbonates, give white pre-
 cipitates  in their solutions.   Tannic acid precipitates them though gallic
 does not.   They are unchanged by the action of persalts of iron when in
 solution.   I shall describe them  under the heads of—1st.  The combina-
 tion with the common  or oxyacids; 2nd, With haloid radicals  or hy-
 dracids;  and 3rd. Compounds with the metals.
   1. Strychnia with the Oxygen  Acids.—These 6alts are  generally
 more active than  the base alone, resulting from  their greater solubility,
and the small quantity of acid present, because  the chemical equivalent
of the  alkaloid  is so high (334),  and hence its energy is but little af-
fected by the presence of the acid. 
                                 28
                              +
    Sulphate of Strychnia.—St So* or (C4fl  H22  N2 0*) So3.  This
 salt is generally formed in the preparation of the alkaloid, but it is usually
 obtained by saturating the base with sulphuric acid and crystallizing. It
 consists of single equivalents of each ; and crystallizes from neutral solu-
 tions in  large quadrilateral  prisms, but excess of  acid  causes  them to
 appear in long thin  needles.  They generally group together in stars.
 This latter property I have seen well shewn as the  concentrated solution
 cools from the boiling-point.  It becomes  opaque on exposure  to  the
 air, without losing weight, and may be fused without decomposition.   If
 heated carefully it looses three per cent of water.  It dissolves in about
 ten parts of water at 60° and in less at 212°.   According to Liebig it
 is anhydrous.  The effects and uses of the sulphate are similar to that
 of the alkaloid itself; but is more bitter because more soluble.
                            +
   Nitrate of Strychnia.—St No5 or (C42 II22  N3 04)Nos.   This
 salt is not much  mentioned.  It is generally prepared  by saturating  the
 alkaloid  with  diluted  nitric acid.  It crystallizes in radiated tufts of long?
 light, silky, capillary needles, containing one equivalent of water of crys-
 tallization, and is very  soluble.   It is  formed in one of the methods  for
 separating strychnia from brucia.  The crystals of the latter salt, adher-
 ing to the sides of the vessels containing  them, while that of strychnia
 can  be  poured  off with the mother  liquor.  The  effects  and  uses are
 similar to those of the alkaloid alone.
                            +
   Acetate of  Strychnia.—St A or  (C42  II22 Na  O4)  (C4 H4 O4).
 This salt  is much more soluble than those just mentioned, and is pre-
 pared by saturating the alkaloid with acetic acid, and evaporating  to
 crystallization.  Acetic  acid being the  most ready solvent of this base is
 generally used for this  purpose in preference to the others;  and  hence
 the acetate is the most generally used of all the salts.   Its effects are  of
 course similar to those of the base.
   Strychnate of Strychnia.—This  is the native salt of strychnia so to
speak.  It exists in solution in the decoction of  nux  vomica, combined
with colouring matter and other vegetable principles.   It is also in this
form that the  alkaloid is exhibited in the preparations of nux vomica  as
the extract or tincture.   It is only interesting in being the  natural com-
bination : its uses are the same as those of nux vomica.

   Tannate of  Strychnia.—St  Tan. or (C42  H22 N2 O4) (C18 H5
O9).  This salt is formed when  tannic acid  or infusion of nutgalls is
added to a soluble salt of strychnia. It is  only of importance on account
of its  insolubility, thus  being a test for strychnia.  It is soluble in sul- 
29
phuric, nitric or acetic acids;  but insoluble in hydrochloric acid or al-
kalies.   Its uses are the same as those of the alkaloid.   Tannic acid is
supposed to  be an  antidote  for strychnia.  It will act by combining
with the strvchnia in solution,  and thus render it  insoluble ; but this is
not a sufficient power, as we have seen that the compounds of strychnia
are not rendered less powerful  by insolubility, as has been considered.

   Chromate  of Strychnia.—St Cr O3 or (C42 H22 N2 O4) Cr O3.
This is prepared by adding a solution of bichromate of potash  to one  of
a soluble salt of strychnia.  The chromate falls down as an insoluble yel-
lowish powder, which appears  like broken down  cubical crystals.  It ;s
insoluble in water, acetic  acid, or  alcohol; but soluble in  sulphuric, ni-
tric, and hydrochloric acids and  aqua  ammoniae.  Its uses will be simi-
lar to those of the alkaloid.
                                 +
   Carbazotate of Strychnia.—St C15  01S N3 or(C42H22 N2 O4)
(C1 s O1 s N3.)  This is prepared by dissolving Strychnia in Carbazotic
Acid.   It crystallizes  in small, round, needle-like crystals, which are
whitish and aggregate in stars.  It is very  soluble in water, alcohol, sul-
phuric, nitric and  carbazotic acids;  but insoluble in  ether or ammonia.
Its uses will be similar to those of the alkaloid itself
                              +
   Benzoate of Strychnia.—St (C14 Hs O3) or (C42 H22 N2 O4)
(C14 H5 O3.)  This salt is prepared by dissolving the alkaloid in Benzoic
Acid.   It crystallizes  from the aqueous solution  in groups of crystals,
having a cubical form;  many  are  pointed at the extremity.   It is not
very soluble in cold water.  It has no  importance except in being a salt
of strychnia, and its uses will likely be similar to those of the base.
                            +
   Gallate of Strychnia.—St Gal or (C42 H22 N2 O4)  (C1 H3 0*.)
This is a soluble salt, and is merely worth  mentioning, because this acid
does not form an insoluble  compound  with the base like Tannic Acid,
and would serve as a means of distinguishing these  two acids.  Gallic
acid might be a negative proof of Strychnia from this property, which
few other elements possess.  When the aqueous solution is evaporated,
the salt is deposited in colourless scales: these appear in  the field  of the
microscope like thin  broken glass fragments.   I  could  not distinguish
any  distinct crystalline form.  It is more  soluble than the Benzoate,
and  is prepared by dissolving the alkaloid  in Gallic Acid and  evaporat-
ing until it takes its peculiar form.   It is not very soluble in cold water.
One thing a little remarkable about the salt is, that both Strychnia and
Gallic  Acid are very  insoluble in  water taken  separately;  but when 
30
 boiled together they  form a very soluble  salt,  although they will not
 unite in cold water.  Its uses are most likely similar to those of the al-
 kaloidal base.
   There are other salts with the Oxygen acids, which have nothing very
 remarkable about their  composition and which are soluble.   They are
 the Lactate, Citrate, Tartrate, Oxalate, Borate and  Phosphate.  They
 are  all easily prepared by  dissolving  the alkaloid in  each acid  res-
 pectively and  evaporating the watery solution.
   2.  Strychnia with the Halogen Radicals.—The halogen elements
 do not unite  with the oxide of a metal or alkali; and, reasoning from
 the same premises, we might say that each of the alkaloids is the oxide
 of some base with which  we are  unacquainted in its free state ; and it
 might be supposed, that, when the haloid radical separates from it, oxy-
 gen immediately  combines with it, forming the common alkaloid.  This
 theory would  do very well with most of the alkaloids;  but there would
 be a difficulty with  those which do not  contain  any oxygen at  all,
 and yet unite  with  the oxygen and hydrogen acids indiscriminately, as
 Narcotina, and, according to Artigosa,  Conia,  although Liebig gives to
 it one equivalent  of oxygen ;  while Lowig says it does not contain oxy-
 gen, and that  it is decomposed by Chlorine, Iodine, and Bromine, when
 brought in contact with them.  Upon any other view we must suppose
 alkaloids are  peculiarly constituted bodies, in which  the elements of
 combination uuite in  opposition  to  our  generally received laws; that
 the same elements hold inviolate with regard to  every  other substance,
 not excepting  the alkaloids of the alcohol series, except when they unite
 with an oxygen acid  of these compounds,  as  the chloric.  If, on the
 other hand, we consider these vegetable  bases to be elementary with
 regard to the halogen, then the oxygen acids must forego their usual
 law and unite  with an unoxygenised base, which they do not do with
 others.   Perhaps  the  halogen radicals, in combining with these bases,
 displace an equivalent of  hydrogen,  as they are known  to do  in the al-
 cohol series, and also  as shown in the formation of the chloride of car-
 bon,  thus acting  by substitution.  However this may be, I am not in-
 clined to think that the chemical laws are at all interfered with in these
 combinations,  although the rationale is unexplained; and, in our present
 state of knowledge on this point, it would be preferable to describe them
 as if they were bases  of  oxygen  acids; and, instead of  terming them
 Chlorides, I shall call  them Hydrochlorates, and in the same manner as
 with other elements.

   Strychnia  and Chlorine — Hydrochlorate of Strychnia. — St
HC1 or (C42 H22  N2 O4) HC1.—This salt is officinal in the Dublin Phar- 
31
macopcea for 1850.  It is prepared by dissolving Strychnia in Muriatic
Acid.  It is deposited in fine crystals as the concentrated boiling solu-
tion cools.  They are  four-sided needles, which lose their transparency
in the air, and when heated give off Hydrochloric Acid.  It contains two
equivalents of water, and is more  soluble  than the sulphate.   Its uses
will be similar to those of pure Strychnine.
   Ohloruretted Chloride of Strychnia.—This is formed when a solu-
tion of chloride  of soda,  obtained by precipitating the lime  from the
commercial chloride  of that  earth, is added to a solution containing
Strychnia.  It is a white, insoluble precipitate, and  is not crystallizable ;
it  is, however, very poisonous.
   Strychnia will most likely form  salts with the oxygen acids of chlorine,
as the hypochlorous, chlorous, chloric, and perchloric acids.
   Chlorine, according to Lowig, converts Strychnia into a base contain-
ing chlorine, the atoms of hydrogen being  replaced by it.   He also says
that if this haloid element be added  to a  soluble salt of the alkaloid it
causes a white precipitate.  This is most likely  a similar compound with
that formed by chloride of soda, before mentioned.
   Silliman, also, states that both Strychnia and  Brucia yield products in
which the hydrogen is in part replaced by  chlorine.
                                                         +
   Strychnia and Iodine—Hydriodate  of  Strychnia.—St H I or
(C42 H22 N2 O4) HI.—This salt is  mentioned by Lowig as being in-
soluble in water;  but  he does not describe any other Iodine compound
but this.  Lewuer also states that a soluble salt of this alkaloid is preci-
pitated white by Iodide of Potassium.   Brande states that if Strychnia
be boiled in Iodine and water that it is dissolved.
   The salt is easily formed by precipitation from Sulphate of Strychnia
by Iodide of Potassium.   It falls  down as a  white crystalline powder,
which  consists  of needle-like, irregularly-rounded  crystals,, and differs
from most of the others in not being distinctly cubical.  It is not soluble,
except in a very great quantity of water, and hence must not be washed
too freely in preparation.   It does not dissolve in Ammonia, nor in Hy-
drochloric  or Citric Acids, but does  in Acetic Acid.  Sulphuric and
Nitric acids do not act very readily on it if they be dilute; but, when
concentrated, the salt is decomposed and Iodine given off.  It is freely
soluble in alcohol.  Its uses will  most likely be similar to those of the
alkaloid itself.   The trivial quantity of Iodine  which  it  contains  will
have little if any influence when  united in small quantities with such a
powerful base.
                                            +
   Ioduretted Hydriodate of Strychnia.—St I, I (C4a  H23 N2  O4) 
32
I,  I.—This compound  is the precipitate which falls when the Iodine
test is added  to  a  solution of Strychnia.   It is not a mere mechanical
combination ;  because, if so, it would not be formed under so many ad-
verse circumstances; and, as the Iodine test is  the Ioduretted Iodide of
Potassium, I have thought that  the alkaloidal combination  was similar.
The Iodide of Potassium is a colourless  salt,  and  so is the Iodide of
Strychnia: for these  reasons  I  have given this precipitate the  above-
mentioned  name.  It is  easily  precipitated from  solutions rendered very
acid by Sulphuric, Nitric  or Acetic  acids ;  also from solutions contain-
ing most metallic salts,  and even from organic mixtures.   When well
washed  and dried, it is of a reddish colour, and when deposited from the
alcoholic solution by  spontaneous evaporation,  it  appears  like cubical
blocks of a yellow colour when examined by the microscope, but it is
not very distinct; generally, it is amorphous.   The precipitate is light
and bulky, comparatively, and is insoluble in water to any great extent;
hence its use as a test.   It has a slightly bitter taste.   When exposed
to heat, Iodine fumes are given off, leaving a dark-colored residue; and,
if the  heat be increased, disagreeable fumes are given off, and a spongy,
charred mass is left, even when heated to redness.   It is soluble in alco-
hol.   Diluted  Sulphuric,  Acetic, Citric and Hydrochloric  acids, form
mixtures of a light yellow colour, but it is  not  dissolved.   The strong
acids  decompose it, giving off violet fumes of Iodine.   Ammonia and
Liq. Potassse abstract the Iodine and leave the Strychnia free  as a yellow-
ish powder. The uses will most probably be similar to those  of the alka-
loid ;  but, on account of its very great insolubility, its  action would not
be considered so violent; but this is doubtful.   I gave  to a kitten about
one-third of a grain, wrapt up  in a piece of meat.  It caused a great flow
of saliva; resulting, I suppose,  from the taste.   In twenty minutes pow-
erful contractions were  caused,  .but  they  were scarcely so  frequent as
when the  free alkaloid was given.   The respirations became very fre-
quent ;  but the heart's action  was not much increased when compared
with that of another kitten of about the same age.  The  pupils were
widely dilated—the irides scarcely to be seen.   The veins  were all en-
gorged with blood, but the lungs not so to a very great extent.  The sto-
mach was  found filled  with air.   The  poisonous particles  were  found
lying  around the cardiac orifice, very few being at  any other  part.   I
think half the amount taken  would  have caused death, because a very
large portion was still rolled up  in the bolus with which it was given.
Death was caused in forty minutes.   Its inferiority in point of poisonous
effects are,  I think, little, if any,  inferior to the  free alkaloid.   The sto-
machic  mucous membrane did not appear to be the least inflamed where 
33
the powder was in contact with it.  It appeared to act independently of
absorption.
                                                                 +
   Strychnia  and Bromine—Hydrobromate   of Strychnia. — St
HBor(C42H22N204)HB— I can find no mention made of this salt
in the works to which I have access.  It can be prepared by precipitat-
ing a solution of  any  salt  of Strychnia by the Bromide of Potassium.
It is a pretty white salt, which crystallizes in bundles resembling hairs.
They are very long and round.   It, like the Iodide, is soluble to a slight
extent in water;  and is so, likewise, in diluted acids. Its uses will, most
likely, be similar to those of the alkaloid. Lowig and Silliman say that
both Strychnia and Brucia can be converted into bases in which the hydro-
gen is replaced by Bromine; being, in this respect, similar to chlorine.
   Bromiuretted Hydrobromate of Strychnia.—This is prepared by
 adding a watery solution of Bromine to a solution of a salt of Strychnia.
 It is of a yellowish red colour.   Its uses will  be similar to those of the
 alkaloid.  I gave a kitten  -Jgth of a grain, which caused sickness for a
 few hours, but no spasms; but, on this amount being repeated, it proved
 fatal in about twelve or fifteen minutes, with the usual symptoms.
    Strychnia and Fluorine.—The Hydrofluorate, although not as  yet
 mentioned by any author, I think could be prepared  as  most  of  the
 homologous compounds are; but I had  not the means of examining  it.
    Strychnia and Cyanogen.—The  reactions of Cyanogen, although
 not an  elementary body,  approach  so closely to those of the  haloid
 group, and bear in reality as much relation to them as Acetic, Citric,
 Tartaric  and other vegetable acids  to the mineral oxygen acids,—that I
 think it can with justice be called the organic halogen radical;  because
 in all its combinations  it reacts similarly, being  only  decomposed by
 great heat or exposure to the air, under certain conditions.

    Hydrocyanate of Strychnia. —St HCy  or (C42 H22 N2  O4)
 (IIC2 N).—This  is a beautiful crystalline salt.   Kane says the needles
 are decomposed by a gentle heat.  It  is prepared, according to him, by
 dissolving  Strychnia in Hydrocyanic acid ; but, as the salt is insoluble
 in five per cent  acid,  the mixture does not appear to  change, and it is
 difficult  to say when  the product  is  obtained.   I  think that it  is very
 much better  to prepare it by precipitation from a solution of Strychnia
 by Cyanide of Potassium.  The temperature of the solution causes a dif-
 ference in  the appearance.   If both solutions be cold, it falls as an amor-
 phous or obscurely crystalline precipitate : under the microscope, it ap-
 pears like  very small needles.  If, however, the sulphate of Strychnia 
34
solution be at the boiling point, the precipitate is amorphous; but, if the
temperature be reduced to 180°., then beautiful crystals are formed, ra-
ther larger than those of sulphate of Quinine.   The crystals are needle-
shaped, and when magnified appear four times as large in proportion as
when the solutions  are  cold.  When they are obtained by the sponta-
neous  evaporation of the alcoholic solution,  they appear like  broken
fragments of  cubes:  the different crystalline layers  remotely resemble
the same appearance which is  found  in  Ferrocyanide of Potassium.
They are right-angled and well-formed : some appear tabulated.  I also
examined a specimen  prepared by boiling the freshly precipitated crys-
tals in water.   To the eye, it looks like an amorphous powder;  but, by
the microscope, as well defined  four-sided crystals, with straight edges.
The solid angles are perfect, except in some places where they were re-
placed by planes; being parallelopipeds, they will  belong to the square
prismatic system, two of the axes being equal and the other at right
ang es.   This  salt is odourless, and very bulky.   It is much less soluble
than the pure alkaloid, requiring between seven and eight thousand parts
of water for its complete solution, which it  renders very bitter.  It is
much more soluble in  boiling water, two drachms  of  which  dissolve
nearly T\ths of a grain, and retain it when cold ; thus being four or five
times as soluble in  hot water as the free alkaloid,  and not so soluble
when the fluid is cold.  Its behaviour with alcohol is more remarkable.
When this fluid is cold, fths of a grain  are soluble in two drachms, or
1$ grains in an ounce, whereas only one grain is dissolved in the ounce
when boiling;  and, if a saturated cold solution be boiled, the excess of
the cyanide is precipitated, and this again  dissolves as the alcohol cools.
When water is added to the cold sojution, a certain amount is precipi-
tated.   It is soluble in all the diluted mineral acids, and in acetic acid ;
a small proportion also is  dissolved by  Hydrocyanic  acid. x From these
solutions it is precipitated as a crystalline powder by alkalies.   It is also
soluble in the  neutral salts, as acetate and sulphate  of ammonia and po-
tassa, and apparently  also in their free alkalies.  Ether dissolves a small
amount. It is not soluble in Iodide, or Cyanide of Potassium, or in tur-
pentine, at a boiling heat.  Nitrate of silver gives no  evidence of cyano-
gen in any of  its solutions; bit I afterwards  obtained  evidence of its
presence by  adding an excess of caustic potassa to its acetic acid solution,
and then the aceto-nitrate of silver, (prepared by adding one-third of the
bulk of acetic  acid to  a  solution of the nitrate, containing a drachm of
the salt to an  ounce of water), by adding an excess of strong nitric acid
to the precipitate, the cyanide separated in a white curdy form.   I also
obtained this evidence by adding the aceto-nitrate to an alcoholic solu- 
35
tion, and then  an excess of nitric acid.  I was unable  to  find any evi-
dence of the Cyanogen when I used the simple Nitrate of Silver solution,
but did so without difficulty with the Aceto Nitrate ; and I am sure this
preparation  contained no Cyanogen, as it  was tested previously.  I am
certain that the precipitate was a Cyanide of Silver, because it was inso-
luble in cold Nitric Acid, but soluble in it when heated.   I also proved
this by another method,  which I found  very  convenient for testing the
Cyanide : this is, the effect of strong Sulphuric Acid on it; and I think
it is fully as distinctive as the  Nitric.   The former acid dissolves all  the
precipitates given with Nitrate of Silver,  except the Chloride, Iodidei
Bromide and Cyanide.   The others, as the Oxalate, Phosphate, and Tar-
trate, are soluble in the cold acid.  The  Cyanide is  dissolved by boiling
Sulphuric Acid only, and the  other three (Iodide, Chloride  and Bromide)
are unaffected.   The heat which is requisite  to dissolve the Cyanide is
very easily  obtained by  leaving a small quantity of water  with the pre-
cipitate, and then  adding the strong Sulphuric Acid when the heat,
which is disengaged by the action  of the water and acid is sufficient to
dissolve the Cyanide completely in  a few minutes, if it be not present in
too  great quantity.  In hot  Hydrochloric Acid the Chloride is  more
soluble than the Cyanide.  I think  from  the difficulty experienced in
separating the  cyanogen from the alkaloid, that it has a greater affinity
for it than for the silver.  The Cyanide is readily acted on by the  Iodu-
retted solution, and in all its  other  actions is similar to  the free base.
Its physiological effects will no doubt be similar to those of the base.  I
gave a chicken the l-64th of a grain  and it appeared to cause an irregu-
larity in the gait shortly after  taking.  An hour afterwards I again gave
a similar quantity, which caused a stiffening of the legs, but nothing else
apparently.   In forty-eight hours it had quite  recovered.  I then gave it
l-16th of a  grain; in fifteen minutes it was unable to walk except in a
hobbling manner; in twenty-four hours  it had again recovered, and I
gave it the l-8th of a grain.  In fifteen  minutes the  spasms came on
with difficult respiration, and lasted for a short time ;  then there would
be ten minutes intermission, when they would again appear.  It died in
about an hour's time, and towards  the end there  were thirty seconds
between each respiration.  I had sometime previously put the l-64th of
a grain under the skin, but it  caused nothing more  than a  local inflam-
mation of the part.   I put the l-8th of a grain under the skin on the
back of a cat, which caused  death in the  usual time and with the  usual
effects.   This salt scarcely acts so quickly as the  free alkaloid, but just
as surely.  Its uses will be similar to  those of  the base.

  Hydroferroctanate of Strychnia.—This salt  is easily prepared by 
36
precipitation from a soluble  salt of Strychnia  and Ferrocyanide of Po-
tassium.   It is an amorphous white powder,  which becomes greenish
when in contact with iron and the air ; it is inodorous, and insoluble in
water; the taste is more metallic than bitter.   Its effects and uses will
be similar to those of the alkaloid.
                                         +
  Hydrosulphocyanate of Strychnia.—St (HC2,NS2) or (C42 H22
N2  O4) (HC2, NS2).  This is  mentioned by Kane, but I prepared it
before I was aware that he had  referred to it.   It is easily prepared by
precipitation from the Sulphate of Strychnia and Sulphocyanide of Potas-
sium.  It is a crystalline powder, which forms radiated four-sided needles.
It has been considered to be the best medicolegal test for the alkaloid, as
it will detect 1 part in 3*75 of water.  It has a slightly  bitterish taste.
Its uses will be similar to the base.

  Strychnia with the Metals.—These compounds form two classes of
salts—those in which the metal acts as an acid, and those forming double
salts, the alkaloid and metal  being united with an acid or halogen radi-
cal.   I have not been able to enquire fully into this department, but will
describe a few  compounds.

  I.The Metal acting as an Acid. Strychnia and Antimony. Anti-
                         +
moniate  of Strychnia.—St SbO5 or (C42 H22  N2 O4) SbO5.  This
salt is easily prepared by precipitation from a  solution  of Sulphate of
Strychnia  and  Antimoniate of Potash.  It is amorphous, tasteless, and
insoluble in water.  This salt, I would suppose,  might be  of some use as
a therapeutical agent if it were enquired into.  The  Antimonite has
not been prepared, and  it is difficult to say what  compound it would
form.
                                                        +
  Strychnia  and Arsenic.  Arsenite of  Strychnia.—St As  O3
or (C42 H22 N2  O4) As O3.  This salt is easily prepared by double de-
composition from Sulphate of Strychnia and Arsenite of  Potash.  It is
amorphous, and requires a large  quantity of water for solution ; it has
no taste, or if any, very slight.   What the therapeutical  powers of this
salt may be has not been yet fully proved by experience.   There seems
reason for  considering it to be a useful Antiperiodic Tonic.   The Arsenite
of Quinine is much recommended in intermittent fevers, and it is almost
insoluble and from analogy we might suppose that its effects would be
somewhat similar.
  Arseniate  of  Strychnia.—This is easily  prepared  by  dissolving
Strychnia  in Arsenic Acid.   It is a very  soluble  salt, I  did not crys- 
37
tallize it.  This preparation might become  useful if its uses were en-
quired into, and it has the advantage of solubility.

  2. Metals acting as a Base in part with Strychnia.   Strychnia
                                                    +
and Copper, Sulphate of Copper and Strychnia.—St, or (C42 H22
N2  O4), SO3 + CuO SO3.  This  salt is mentioned by Pariera  as the
Cupreous Sulphate of Strychnia.   He considers the salt  of copper to
act  as an acid and the alkaloid as a base, but I think it  is more easy of
explanation if we consider it a double Sulphate of the metal and Strych-
nia, because the acid unites with  each separately, and  why  not when
combined ?   There are many analogous compounds, as the Tartrate of
Potash and Antimony, also called  the Antimonio-Tartrate of Potash or
Potassio-Taitrate of Antimony.   I think the  first  name  expresses the
composition in  the clearest manner, because there  are two  combining
equivalents of acid and two of bases present.  This  is proved to be cor-
rect by the manufacture of the salt, where the acid Bitartrate of Potash
dissolves sufficient Teroxide of Antimony to neutralise it, thus forming a
neutral tartrate of each base.  This salt is  easily prepared by dissolving
Strychnia in Sulphate of Copper, when part of the oxide of the metal is
thrown down and the  alkaloid  substituted  for  it.  The solution  has  a
beautiful green colour, and on evaporation yields greenish crystals.
These are much more soluble  in  hot than  in  cold water;  under the
microscope they appear to be made up of small tabular crystals piled up
on  one another.   It has a bitter metallic taste,  and  its uses  will  most
likely be similar to those of the alkaloid.

  Strychnia and Platinum.   Hydrochlorate  of  Strychnia and
           +
Platina.—St, or (C42 H22 N2 O4), HC1 +  PtCl.   This is a beautiful
lemon yellow salt, but differs in appearance owing to the method of pre-
paring.   If the  Bichloride of Platina be added to a boiling solution of
the  Hydrochlorate of Strychnia, the salt is crystalline, but if the solution
be cold then it is amorphous.  When examined by the microscope the
crystals appear  like cubical blocks lying together.   It is  insoluble in
water and  Hydrochloric Acid, but soluble  in boiling  nitric  acid.  Its
uses will likely be similar to those of the alkaloid, although I think it is
rather more active.   I gave the l-4th of a  grain to a  cat, almost full
grown; in  eight minutes two or three violent convulsions came on, and
in one minute respiration altogether ceased, although the  action of the
heart continued for some time.  On examination  I  found the brilliant
scales of the salt lying on the posterior nares, gullet,  and cardiac  orifice,
thus appearing to act locally. 
                                38

   Strychnia and Mercury.  Hydrochlorate of  Strychnia and

Mercury.—St, or (C42 H22 N2 O4), HCl + HgCl.  This salt is formed
acordingto Pariera, by adding solution of Hydrochlorate of Strychnia to
that of Bichloride of Mercury,  a white clotty precipitate falls which is
insoluble.   When  cold  it  has an amorphous  form,  but if the solu-
tions be hot then the salt appears  in  a crystalline form.  This by the
microscope appears like small  needles, very similar to some of the other
salts of Strychnia.   It has a bitter metallic  taste, which is very persis-
tent; it is insoluble in water or Acetic Acid, but soluble  in  Ammonia,
Nitric, and Hydrochloric Acids.  Sulphuric Acid causes  a milky-look-
ing mixture.   Its uses will likely be similar to  those of  the alkaloid.   I
gave about the l-16th of a grain to a  kitten whose mouth was bleeding.
In thirty minutes it became violently convulsed, every muscle was rigid.
The spasms  came on every twenty  seconds during four  or five minutes,
the breathing was very hurried, but the respirations became weaker, and
in twelve minutes the  spasms  ceased  altogether. It now  appeared  to
recover, but in an hour the convulsions again appeared, and it died.   I
gave a smaller quantity to another, in  an hour  it became  affected with
the spasms, but had only  two.   It recovered so as to take its next meal,
but yet appeared to be under the poison's influence, as  it  screamed fre-
quently but had  no spasms.
   Hydrooyanate of Strychnia and Mercury.—This is a pretty crys-
talline salt, obtained by adding Hydrocyanate of Strychnia to the Bicy-
anide of Mercury.   It is  very soluble, and by evaporation the salt is
obtained in four sided crystals.   Its  uses will probably not be dissimilar
to those of the Hydrocyanate before described.
   Strychnia and Iron.—I  formed a double  salt,  the Hydriodate  of
Strychnia and Iron, by dissolving Strychnia  in solution of Iodide of Iron,
the alkaloid in part replacing the metallic base, the Oxide  of Iron being
thrown down.  The metal is only present in small quantity.  It forms
regular four-sided crystals, and is slightly soluble in water. Its medicinal
uses will likely not be dissimilar to those of the alkaloid.  I gave about
the l-6th of a  grain to a kitten; it  caused death in the usual time, and
with the ordinary symptoms.
   All the compound salts of Strychnia are very similar  to the alkaloid
in action ; some  are, however,  rather more active.
   In conclusion,  I have to regret that  I have not done the justice to the
subject which its importance deserves.  My desire has  been to institute
experimental investigations, not hitherto conducted.  Several compounds
accordingly are treated of which were, to me at least, new.  It has been 
                                39

my principal wish that nothing should be described but what I have seen.
I have paid most attention to the Iodine test, and I think it could become
most useful in proving the presence of the alkaloid in cases of supposed
poisoning.   I have also alluded so some new methods of preparing this
vegetable base.  Most of the experiments I  have  again and  again  re-
peated, and  feel confidence in their accuracy.