In 1939 Burman1 first reported clinical experience with the use of erythroidine hydrochloride in treatment of spastic and dystonic states and indicated that this drug showed promise in the treatment of these conditions. Considerable interest has recently been aroused regarding the possibilities of utilizing this and related curariform drugs in treatment of other neurologic conditions,2 as well as in conjunction with convulsive therapy for mental disorders.3 A controlled study of the clinical properties of erythroidine preparations therefore appeared desirable.
Since the publication of the classic accounts of Loewi,4 Dale5 and their co-workers on the chemical mediation of nerve impulses, great impetus has been given to the study of drugs which affect the myoneural junction. West,6 Burman,1 Bennett and associates,2 Hoefer and Putnam7 and others8 have sought to influence spasticity, rigidity and hyperkinetic states in man by the use of curare