Chem. [a. F. strychnine f. L. strychn-os: see STRYCHNOS and -INE5.] A highly poisonous vegetable alkaloid, C21 H22 N2 O2, obtained chiefly from Strychnos Nux-vomica and other plants of the same genus. It is used in medicine as a stimulant and tonic.
1819. Edin. Philos. Jrnl., I. 210. New vegetable Alkali called Strychnine.—This new alkali was discovered by MM. Pelletier and Caventou in the Strychnos ignatia and the Strychnos nux vomica.
1861. Brit. & For. Med.-Chirurg. Rev., XXVII. 533. A case of poisoning by strychnine.
b. attrib. as in strychnine poisoning, tetanus; strychnine-plant, Strychnos Nux-vomica; strychnine-tree, S. psilosperma.
1879. St. George’s Hosp. Rep., IX. 688. Frogs, in whom strychnine tetanus had been produced.
1884. W. Miller, Plant-n., 131. Strychnine-plant.
1885. Lady Brassey, The Trades, 129. The cottage was overshadowed by a strychnine-tree and a tamarind.
1898. Fr. A. Welby trans. Biedermann’s Electro-Physiol., II. 423. The effect of strychnine poisoning is highly characteristic.
Hence Strychnine v. trans., to poison by strychnine; Strychnined ppl. a.
1862. Sporting Mag., April, 288. We are informed that strychnined rabbits form the patent ‘composing draught.’
1871. Carlyle, in Mrs. Carlyle’s Lett., III. 11. Poor Nero, who had to be strychnined by the doctor.
1903. Bosw. Smith, in 19th Cent., March, 441. Others … are willing to put down a strychnined egg for him [a raven].
