In paraplegia of reflex origin, in rheumatismal paraplegia, in syphiloma of the spinal meninges, paraplegia continuing after the removal of the deposits, strychnine is a most serviceable remedy.

The best results are obtained from the use of strychnine in local paralysis, in lead-colic and constipation, and in drop-wrist, in mercurial and paludal palsies, in rheumatismal paralyses—for example, facial paralysis, from exposure of the face to cold—torticollis, spinal curvature, from paresis of the muscles on one side, etc.

In certain forms of spasms strychnine sometimes achieves most important results. The evidence which has been accumulated as to the curative power of strychnine in tetanus would be very conclusive if it were worthy of credence, which seems to the author doubtful. In this disease it should be given so as to substitute the strychnic for the traumatic tetanus, but the symptoms induced should not exceed those due to a full medicinal dose. Strychnine is most successful—as indeed are all the appropriate remedies—in the more chronic cases of tetanus, and in those of spontaneous rather than traumatic origin.

Trousseau's experience is strongly in favor of the use of strychnine in the treatment of chorea. The method which he has pursued does not commend itself—it is heroic, and indeed unsafe. It consists in the use of such doses, beginning with one dose a day and increasing them, until stiffness of the muscles of the neck, spasmodic jerkings, and a "meaningless smile," indicate the beginning of strychnic poisoning.

Strychnine is a very serviceable remedy in idiopathic or essential epilepsy. It is adapted to pale, anaemic young subjects who have the petit mal, as well as the grand mal, and whose attacks are nocturnal. It exerts no influence but an injurious one over symptomatic epilepsy— that dependent on "coarse organic lesions of the brain." It is said that the state of the retinal circulation furnishes an indication for strychnine or bromide of potassium, fullness of the retinal vessels being an indication for the latter agent, and pallor and anaemia for the former.

In that functional irritability of the nervous system manifested by restlessness and wandering neuralgic pains, strychnine affords relief.

Spasmodic asthma of nervous subjects, when the paroxysms are due to an irritable state of the nervous system, are associated with vague neuralgic pains, and are determined by psychical influences, may be so far influenced by the persistent use of strychnine as to occur much less frequently.

Amaurosis of a functional kind, from lead, tobacco, and alcohol, may be cured by strychnine. Paralysis of the ocular muscles (prosopalgia), of the muscle of accommodation, and paralysis of a single muscle, when these affections are due to an arrest of function of the nerve or nerves, and do not involve changes of structure, are curable by strychnine. Nagel, however, reports a cure of amaurosis in which there existed white atrophy of the optic disks!

Holtenhof points out the kind of amblyopia most benefited by this treatment. The cases without serious lesion, those dependent on anaemia, on a reflex effect from some part of the trigeminus or sympathetic, or due to the abuse of tobacco and alcohol, are especially amenable to the strychnic treatment. "In central amblyopia," says Holtenhof," without lesion of the macula and with decoloration of the temporal portion of the optic disk, I have obtained remarkable improvement by the use of strychnine." Again, when there are lesions resulting from the deep-seated inflammation of the membranes, improvement may be hoped for when the primary inflammation has ceased and the consecutive atrophy is stationary. In retinitis pigmentosa the results produced by strichnine are very striking. In five cases the diurnal dimness of vision and the nocturnal blindness were relieved considerably, in four cases there ensued an augmentation in the acuity of vision, and in two the visual field for white light was enlarged. Holtenhot finds strychnine inferior to electricity in the treatment of paralysis of the ocular muscles.

Strychnine has remarkable powers as a respiratory stimulant. Since the introduction of Aitken's formula for the phosphate of iron, quinine, and strychnine, the fact of its utility in chronic bronchitis, incipient phthisis, dilated bronchi, etc., has been distinctly recognized. The good effects of this combination are due chiefly to the strychnine. We possess no remedy more generally effective in the vomiting of phthisis than strychnine. This vomiting is reflex mainly, and occurs at the termination of a paroxysm of coughing, but there is also more or less stomachal indigestion. As the stomach is emptied, the vomiting interferes with nutrition. Strychnine has also, as Murrell has shown, some power to lessen the sweating of phthisis. This agent may, therefore, be regarded as an important remedy in consumption. There are several modes of administration, but the best is by solution, the alkaloid dissolved in water with a mineral acid: Rx Strychninae, gr. j; acid, muriatic, dil., oz j. M. Sig.: Five to ten drops in water three times a day.

Strychnine is one of the antidotes to chloral, as was first shown by Liebreich, but it is not the chief. It may be utilized cautiously as one of the means of counteracting the respiratory and cardiac depression, but it should not be depended on wholly.

Nux-vomica has been used with success in the treatment of inter-mittents. At present it is rather employed as an adjuvant to quinine, than relied on as the sole curative agent.