Symptoms

The ten main symptoms of strychnine poisoning:

1. Initial symptoms are tightness and twitching of the muscles,
   agitation and hyperreflexia.
   
2. Stiffness of the body.
   
3. Lockjaw.
   
4. Frothing of the mouth.
   
5. Cessation of respiration.
   
6. Tetanus like attacks appear every 10 ? 15 minutes. During
   these attacks the eye balls protrude and the pupils enlarge.
   
7. Severe cyanosis, which disappears after the attack subsides.
   
8. The attacks (each lasting about 3 ? 4 minutes) appear to be
   spontaneous while other times they are the result of external
   stimuli i.e. noises, slight movements or flashes of light. The
   patient never loses consciousness.
   
9. When the poisoning is left untreated each attack lasts longer
   than the previous and the interval between them grows shorter.
   
10. Up to 10 attacks occur before death or recovery. This could
    happen from 10 minutes to 3 hours and is a result of asphyxiat-
    ion or inner tissue paralysis.

Treatment

If caught in time, strychnine poisoning can be treated with
barbiturate sedatives and muscle relaxants, by avoiding unne-
cessary sensory stimulation, and, if necessary, with artificial
respiration.

The poison is metabolised in the liver and has a half-life of about
10 hours in humans. Therefore within a few days it will be more
or less eliminated and treatment can be withdrawn.