ON THE USE OF STRYCHNINE IN THE CURARE-AIDED METRAZOL TREATMENT OF PSYCHOSES
MARCEL HEIMAN M. D.1
1 The Mt. Pleasant State Hospital, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
1. A modification of the metrazol treatment is described. The material consisted of 30 female patients who received strychnine simultaneously with curare intravenously in amounts of 1/120 gr. to 1/30 gr. preceding the injection of metrazol.
2. Strychnine reduces the metrazol requirement, the maximum average dosage being only 23.5 per cent higher than the initial average dosage, compared to 62.7 per cent increase without its use. It is assumed that strychnine sensitizes the central nervous system to metrazol.
3. Strychnine has a beneficial action upon the respiration which is impaired centrally due to the effect of the metrazol convulsion and which is impaired peripherally due to the effect of curare. This action is assumed to be due to the excitatory effect of strychnine upon the respiratory center and to the action of strychnine on the peripheral nerves.
4. It is concluded that strychnine might be of value by virtue of its sensitizing effect in metrazol as well as in other shock therapies.
