FiTCHETT. — Physiological Action of TuHn. 325 



in the hinder part of the body. This result does not agree with the state- 

 ment made by Marshall (24) that the spasms in tutin poisoning are not 

 produced below a section ol the cord. 



Like other convulsants, tutin raises the excitability of the reflex arc. 

 This is shown in the last experiment, where crossed reflexes could be 

 obtained soon after section of the cord. This rise in excitability might 

 explain the severity and frequent repetition of convulsive seizures when once 

 they begin, for it is known that in strychnine poisoning, where the reflex 

 excitability is raised, the afferent, probably painful, impulses coming from 

 the convulsed muscles originate further convulsions, and thus a sort of 

 vicious cycle is set up. In this connection it may be noted that it has long- 

 been known to farmers that if " tooted " sheep are left undisturbed no 

 symptoms may appear ; but once the symptoms are initiated — say, by the 

 bark of a dog — they continue, and are from the outset severe. The ex- 

 planation given above would account for the apparently sudden onset of 

 severe symptoms. 



It seemed of interest to determine whether the reflex time was shortened. 

 Florence Buchanan (29) and others found that strychnine in small doses 

 did not perceptibly shorten the reflex time. It was impossible in this 

 case to use the same elaborate method, so recourse was had to the simple 

 but less accurate method of Turck. The results of the experiments, with 

 details of the method, are given in the protocols, but they may be shortly 

 summarised here. 



Six experiments were made. In three of these (Exps. 154, 156, 157) 

 the reflex time was shortened from 6 to 4, from 6 to 5. and from 6-1 to 3 

 respectively ; while in three others (Exps. 155, 158, 159) the time was 

 lengthened from 8 to 12-2, from 8-3 to 22, and from 8-5 to 44. From these 

 results it will be seen that no definite conclusion could be drawn. The 

 one thing that did appear in these experiments was that the amount of 

 movement was increased after the injection of tutin, the stimulus as a rule 

 now causing general movements of the body. Thus, though the effect of 

 tutin upon the reflex time remained doubtful, its effect in increasing reflex 

 excitability seemed to be clear. 



In frog 157 the injection of tutin caused a typical convulsion, and in 

 this case it was found that the optic lobes had not been pithed. In cases 

 where the pithing destroyed all parts but the cord no convulsions occurred. 

 Although this dift'ers from what was found in mammals where tutin pro- 

 duced ,spasms below a section of the cord, it agrees mth Gottlieb's (28) 

 finding that in picrotoxin poisoning m frogs convulsions did not occur 

 below a section of the cord. 



The second important svmptom of tutin poisoning is the comatose 

 condition that is so invariable an accompaniment. This occurs in various 

 degrees according to the dose, and it deepens as the case advances. In the 

 recorded cases of poisoning of human beings, referred to above, complete 

 loss of consciousness and subsequent loss of memory was frequently 

 observed. Loss of memory appears to occur also in lower animals, for 

 shepherds have observed that a " tooted " lamb which has recovered does 

 not know its own mother, and the ewe may be seen following her lamb and 

 striving to excite recognition. 



Another proof that abrogation of sense-perception obtains is the marked 

 absence of any evidence of pain. The animals utter no cry of pain, although 

 the convulsions are very severe, and would, were this condition not present, 

 be most painful. 



