54- On the Effects of Opium 



EXPERIMENT 31. 



With Rabbits. 



The heart of a full grown rabbit beats ge- 

 nerally from 260 to 270 in a minute, (b) 



Hours. Minutes. 



3. 9. An omice of spirits of wine was in- 

 jected down the oesophagus. 



12. Pulse 288, but not considerably 

 stronger. 



16. Animal is very dizzy, and staggers 

 when he attempts to w^alk. 



20. Pulse encreased to 312 : animal ap-. 

 pears completely drunk. 



30. Animal lethargic, with its eyes 

 open. 



(b) The velocity of the pulse of a rabbit has not iin- 

 freqiiently excited some degree of surprize, and it has 

 been suggested that at so high a point ot number, the feel 

 could not be so accurate as to discjiminate the exact num- 

 ber of pulsations. At the time these experiments were 

 made, by frequent application I was persuaded, that in 

 the counting, I was not wrong more thali so few in number 

 as not to make any difference in the general conclusion, 

 which was all that was aimed at ; but that I might avoid 

 error as much *? possible, I requested Dr Goodwin, whose 

 accuracy is unquestionable, to mark the pulse in all these 

 substances, whilst I noted down from time to time his 

 report. 



