374 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



Exp. 19. On a small frog. 2.04, injected ^^ of a grain into the 

 abdomen. 2.08, voluntary and reflex movements still occur ; 2.14, 

 neither voluntary nor reflex movements occur, not even when the 

 animal was irritated by galvanism. In twenty hours the animal 

 had recovered its motive powers and was used for another experi- 

 ment. 



These investigators seem to imply that the convulsions are due 

 to exaltation of the motor tract of the cord, which is far from 

 being the case, but as they were proved to be cerebral when speak 

 ing of conia's action on the brain, nothing further need be said on 

 the subject at present. Again, these investigators write : " With 

 strong doses there exists an undoubted increase of the excitability 

 of the motor centres which is evidenced by a marked paralysis of 

 the motor extremities of nerves." How paralysis of the motor 

 extremities of nerves proves an excitability of the motor centres 

 is beyond the writer's comprehension, for to ordinary minds 

 paralysis of the motor extremities of nerves is always associated 

 with some depressing influence on the nervous centres or on the 

 nerves themselves. 



Further on in their remarks these experimenters state that the 

 primary increase in the number of respiratory movements is due 

 to an increased excitability of the bulbo-spinal centres, but, as 

 the writer ascertained, that when the pneumogastrics were cut 

 and conia given, no increase in the number of respiratory move- 

 ments occurs, their view of the matter is hardly tenable. 



As all the investigators have merely recorded their conclusions 

 without the experiments on which their conclusions were based ? 

 the only way to determine the action of conia on the spinal motor 

 ti'act was to go over the whole ground anew ; in doing this, thirty- 

 four experiments were made by the writer, several of which with 

 conclusions will now be recorded. 



Exp. 20. On a very large frog. A drop of acetic acid placed on 

 its foot caused immediate reflex movements ; these movements are 

 also excited by a very weak galvanic current applied to the foot. 

 1.39^, injected one-quarter drop of conia. 1.39^, a drop of acetic 

 acid placed on the foot causes reflex movements in three seconds. 

 1.39|, it takes a much stronger galvanic current to produce reflex 

 movements than previous to the injection. 1.50i, the acetic acid 

 caused movements in six seconds. 1.57, the acetic acid will no 

 longer cause reflex movements. 2.04, it takes the strongest 



