strychnine and Asphyxia

The evolution of rigor mortis was studied in cases of nitrogen asphyxia, drowning and strangulation, as well as in fatal intoxications due to strychnine, carbon monoxide and curariform drugs, using a modified method of measurement. Our experiments demonstrated that: (1) Strychnine intoxication hastens the onset and passing of rigor mortis. (2) CO intoxication delays the resolution of rigor mortis. (3) The intensity of rigor may vary depending upon the cause of death. (4) If the stage of rigidity is to be used to estimate the time of death, it is necessary: (a) to perform a succession of objective measurements of rigor mortis intensity; and (b) to verify the eventual presence of factors that could play a role in the modification of its development.

Topics: Airway Obstruction; Animals; Asphyxia; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; Drowning; Ether; Forensic Medicine; Hindlimb; Male; Muridae; Rigor Mortis; Strychnine; Succinylcholine

Averaged evoked potentials to sciatic nerve stimulation and to direct stimulation of the cervical spinal cord were recorded from the dura and skin over the spinal cord and cauda equina in bipolar and common reference leads in cats and compared. Response waveform and conduction characteristics are described. The effects of increasing stimulus intensity, asphyxia and strychnine on these potentials are related. Alterations in these potentials produced by spinal cord at one or two levels are also described. These potentials are compared to similar potentials which have been recorded in man and the possible clinical application of some of these methods is discussed.

Topics: Animals; Asphyxia; Cats; Cauda Equina; Evoked Potentials; Reaction Time; Spinal Cord; Spinal Cord Compression; Spinal Nerve Roots; Strychnine; Synaptic Transmission

Topics: Animals; Asphyxia; Cerebral Arteries; Cerebral Cortex; Female; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Male; Muscle, Smooth; Rabbits; Seizures; Strychnine

Topics: Adult; Asphyxia; Charcoal; Humans; Kidney; Male; Middle Aged; Seizures; Strychnine; Suicide

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Asphyxia; Cats; Computers, Analog; Electric Stimulation; Electrophysiology; Motor Neurons; Muscle Spindles; Neural Conduction; Pentobarbital; Picrotoxin; Reflex; Strychnine; Synapses; Synaptic Transmission; Time Factors

Topics: Asphyxia; Brain; Cats; Cerebellum; Chloralose; Electric Stimulation; Electrophysiology; Ethyl Chloride; Gallamine Triethiodide; Neural Conduction; Neuromuscular Junction; Neurons; Peripheral Nerves; Pyramidal Tracts; Research; Spinal Cord; Strychnine; Vestibular Nerve

Topics: Asphyxia; Cerebral Cortex; Corpus Callosum; Humans; Hypothalamus; Respiration; Respiration, Artificial; Strychnine

Topics: Action Potentials; Anticonvulsants; Asphyxia; Atropine; Brain; Hypoxia; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; Strychnine