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Strychnine, extracted from Nux Vomica, is a stimulant in small doses but fatal in larger ones. It’s used in pesticides and has been linked to accidental deaths. There’s no antidote, but treatment includes intravenous fluids and medication for muscle spasms. Ingestion can occur through breathing, skin absorption, or swallowing. Prompt medical attention is crucial, and vermin traps are recommended over poisonous substances to avoid accidents.
Strychnine is a white alkaloid with a crystalline structure that is extracted from Nux Vomica and related plants. In small doses, it has historically been used as a stimulant in both humans and animals; in larger doses, strychnine is fatal. It is also a common ingredient in pesticides, which is a concern for some people since it could be ingested by unwanted victims, such as neighborhood dogs.
Nux Vomica is a tree native to Southeast Asia. The seeds are the primary source of strychnine, although the bark of the tree also contains small amounts of toxic alkaloids. Strychnine has been used for centuries. Nux Vomica is often prescribed in homeopathy, in the form of a highly diluted medicine which contains negligible amounts of strychnine. People have also used this compound as a stimulant; athletes, for example, in the early 20th century took it to improve their performance. The substance has been linked to several accidental deaths from this practice; modern athletes generally don’t use it as a performance aid due to the risks.
The fatal dosage of strychnine is not very large. When an animal ingests a lethal dose, the result is a rapid onset of twitching, muscle twitching, and lack of muscle control. One of the characteristic signs of poisoning is an arched back and the instant onset of rigor mortis after death. Most cases of death are caused by respiratory spasms that cut off the victim’s air supply.
There is no antidote for strychnine poisoning, although several substances can be used to treat it. Some medical professionals may use activated charcoal to try to clear the toxin from the patient, and historically tannin has been used in an attempt to neutralize the substance so the patient can safely express it. Modern treatment for strychnine poisoning also includes intravenous fluids and medications to treat the painful muscle spasms associated with the condition.
Humans can ingest strychnine by breathing it in, absorbing it through the skin, or by swallowing it. If anyone starts showing signs of poisoning, they should see a doctor right away. Prompt medical attention is critical to helping a patient survive; the same goes for animals that accidentally ingest it. People with pets or a large concentration of neighborhood animals may want to consider using vermin traps, rather than poisonous substances, to avoid tragic accidents. In any case of poisoning, people should try to carry a sample of the poison with them so that medical personnel can test it.
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