Latin, Nux Vomica (Gen., Nucis Vomicae)

Eng., Nux Vomica. Synonyms, Poison Nut, Dog Button, Quaker Button. The dried ripe seeds of Strychnos nux vomica, yielding not less than 2l/2 per cent. of Alkaloids.

Principal Constituents

Strychnine (about 1.25 per cent.), bru-cine, tannic acid, etc.

Average Dose

1 grain (0.06 Gm.).

Official Alkaloid, Salts and Preparations.

Extractum Nucis Vomicae

Eng., Extract of Nux Vomica. A light-colored powder.

Average Dose

1/4 grain (0.015 Gm.).

Fluidextractum Nucis Vomicae

Eng., Fluidextract of Nux Vomica. Average Dose.-1 minim (0.05 mil).

Tinctura Nucis Vomicae

Eng., Tincture of Nux Vomica. Represents about 10 per cent. of the drug.

Average Dose

8 minims (0.5 mil).

Strychnina

Eng., Strychnine. An alkaloid obtained from Nux Vomica.

Form

Colorless crystals or white powder.

Odor And Taste

Odorless. Intensely bitter taste.

Solubility

In 6420 parts of water or 136 of alcohol.

Incompatibles

For Strychnine and its Salts: Alkalies, alkali carbonates and bicarbonates, ammonium chloride, benzoates, dichromates, bromides, borates, cyanides, iodides, salicylates, gold chloride, ichthyol, mercuric chloride, potassio-mercuric iodide, oxalic acid, picric acid, piperazin, oxidizers, tannic acid.

Average Dose

1/40 grain (0.0015 Gm.).

Strychnine is contained in many official preparations.

Strychninae Nitras

Eng., Strychnine Nitrate.

Form

Colorless needles.

Odor And Taste

Odorless. Intensely bitter taste.

Solubility

In 42 parts of water or 150 parts of alcohol.

Incompatibles

See Strychnina.

Average Dose

1/40 grain (0.0015 Gm.).

Strychninae Sulphas

Eng., Strychnine Sulphate. Form.-Colorless or white crystals.

Odor And Taste

Odorless. Intensely bitter taste. Solubility.-In 32 parts of water or 81 parts of alcohol. Incompatibles.-See Strychnina. Average Dose.-1/40 grain (0.0015 Gm.).

Therapeutic Action

Stimulant, tonic, stomachic.

Uses

The preparations of Nux Vomica or the Strychnine salts have been used in the treatment of almost all diseases either during the progress of the maladies or to aid in the processes of repair. Particularly employed in conditions characterized by loss of appetite, weakness, indigestion, constipation or other evidences of lowered vitality.

Toxicology

The usual symptoms of strychnine poisoning are nervous twitchings, hyperesthesia, convulsions. Some differential features of the convulsions are the relaxation between the attacks, the exaggerated reflexes and the lateness of the involvement of the muscles of neck and face. In children a comparatively small dose of strychnine may produce toxic symptoms.

Treatment consists largely in keeping the patient free from disturbing surroundings, chloroform by inhalation during the convulsions, and hydrated chloral and bromides by mouth or rectum. The stomach should be washed out, if possible, with a solution of potassium permanganate (1:3000). Elimination should be favored particularly by diuretics.

Administration

The preparations most frequently used are the Tincture of Nux Vomica and Strychnine Sulphate. Extract of Nux Vomica and Strychnine Nitrate are also extensively used by some practitioners.

A common error seems to be that of giving the tincture in such small dosage as to be almost without effect; particularly is this the case when ordered to be taken by drops, as it averages about 140 drops to 60 minims. The strychnine content is only about 0.1 per cent.; so 5 drops would only represent about 1/500 grain of strychnine, while about 1/40 grain is the average dose when using the alkaloidal salt.

In prescribing strychnine in solution it is particularly inadvisable to employ it with the bromides or iodides, as the precipitate forms slowly, and being comparatively small in amount may be overlooked by both dispenser and patient and a poisonous amount taken at the final dose.

As a tonic, stimulant, stomachic, appetizer, etc.:

Sig

Twenty (20) drops in water before meals.

Or:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful in water before meals.

Used to stimulate appetite:

M.

Sig

Two (2) teaspoonfuls in water half-hour before meals.

As a tonic, etc.:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful in water after meals.

As a laxative, etc., in the treatment of atony:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful in water before meals.

In the treatment of indigestion:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful in water after meals.

1 Musser and Kelly: Practical Treatment 2 Stelwagon: Diseases of the Skin.

In the treatment of heart and kidney disease:

M.

Sig

Two (2) teaspoonfuls in water after meals.

Or:

M.

Sig

Teaspoonful in water after meals.

As a stimulant:

Sig

One every six hours.

As a tonic, particularly in malaria:

M. ft. cap. no. xxx.

Sig

One after each meal,

In the treatment of chronic valvular disease:

M. ft. cap. no. xij.

Sig

One every four hours.

In the treatment of menorrhagia and metrorrhagia:

M. ft. cap. no. xx.

Sig

One two hours after meals.