In view of some recent criticisms regarding the use of strychnia as a cardiac tonic, it is well to note the other, and what clinical experience shows to be, the truer, side. Benedict1 finds that strychnia approaches most nearly a strictly standardized remedy, chemically and physiologically; he says that, in his experience, it is the only drug from which a permanent result may be expected without danger or deleterious influence and which yet may be regarded as an artificial spur. He even suggests that strychnia may represent some chemical product of our organism, as caffein represents the alloxur bodies, more especially the xanthin radicle.
Of course, the beneficial use of strychnia implies reasonable care in its use, and his ideas as to this are specified as follows: "One milligram, t. i. d.: tonic dose for small adult, with no indication for marked effect. Two milligrams, t. i. d.: ordinary