you are not yet aware of something common in usa hospitals.
Curare is not used, morphine is, for several reasons.
WIKI SAYS ...
Curare /kʊˈrɑːri/[1] or /kjʊˈrɑːri/[2] is a common name for various
plant extract alkaloid arrow poisons originating from Central and South
America. These poisons function by competitively and reversibly
inhibiting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), which is a
subtype of acetylcholine receptor found at the neuromuscular junction.
This causes weakness of the skeletal muscles and, when administered in a
sufficient dose, eventual death by asphyxiation due to paralysis of the
diaphragm.
Modern anesthetists have at their disposal a variety of muscle relaxants
for use in anesthesia. The ability to produce muscle relaxation
irrespective of sedation has permitted anesthetists to adjust the two
effects independently and on the fly to ensure that their patients are
safely unconscious and sufficiently relaxed to permit surgery. The use
of neuromuscular blocking drugs carries with it a very small risk of
anesthesia awareness.
Curare is only hazardous in the bloodstream, not swallowed by mouth.
Therefore, experienced Amazonian poison makers can safely taste the
curare, judging how intense it is from its degree of bitterness. Another
way the potency of curare is tested is by shooting the poison into a
frog and seeing how many times it hops before the frog stops moving.
Once the potent paste is ready, the tips of darts and arrows are coated
with the substance. Hunters must be careful not to cut or scrape
themselves with the dangerous tips, lest they become the victims.
-Curare is an alkaloid, and acts as a neuromuscular blocking agent to
produce paralysis in muscles. It first affects the muscles of the toes,
ears, and eyes, then those of the neck, arms and legs, and finally,
those involved in breathing. In fatal doses, death is caused by
respiratory paralysis. Curare must get into the blood system for it to
work. It doesn't hurt to eat something killed by a poisoned curare
arrow, for instance. (Early 1700s) Originally found in South America
Used for dart poison
death by muscle paralysis (stricnine does this too, very painful)
It's name: comes from the word "viraery", vira = bird, eor = kill.
Charles de la Condamine --> scientist, first witnessed the Ticunus
indians use it.
Alexander Von Humboldt --> plant collector, first saw WHERE they got the
poison (the bark of the Strychnos family of trees).
Neuromuscular-blocking agent Claude Bernard and his injected frog:
Curare blocks conduction of nerve impulse to the muscles.
Late 1800s, early 1900s: Various doctors tried to use it as a way to
cure things such as tetanus and rabies, however almost every experiment
failed and ended fatally.
1930s: Richard Gill: sold Curare to ER Squibb, anesthetics becomes a
possibility.
Later, other scientist and doctors took this idea of anesthetics to the
next levelllll...... ;)
Curare Cures Krystal, Juliana, Hannah, Rosie Time
even eyes are paralyzed- difficult to confirm consciousness
Artificial Respiration
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEl)
inhibits enzyme from breaking down ACh block transmission at
neuromuscular junction
can act presynaptically (inhibit acetylcholine - ACh) or
postsynaptically (block acetylcholine receptor)
Curare - blocks nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)
D-tubocurarine
active agent
competitive antagonist skeletal muscle relaxant
slow onset (60 seconds to 15 minutes)
long duration (30 minutes to 8 hours)
large molecules - cannot enter bloodstream through digestive system
must enter directly into bloodstream C H N O 37 41 2 6 + improved
effectiveness and safety of anesthesiology
marks the beginning of neuromuscular blocking agents