324 Transactions. 



affecting botli sides equally. The left hemisphere was then removed, but 

 the movements were unaffected, and continued on both sides equally. So 

 it may be concluded that the convulsions may originate in the cells of the 

 lower neurones, or, at any rate, that the upper neurone is not necessary for 

 their development. Further observations made in this experiment lend 

 support to this suggestion. After the cerebrum had been removed, the cord 

 was divided at the level of the fifth dorsal vertebra. Four minutes after- 

 wards tonic and clonic spasms of the hind limbs were observed, and con- 

 tinued intermittently for a quarter of an hour. As the cells of the cord 

 were now completely cut off from the higher centres, these movements 

 must have originated in the neurones of the spinal cord itself. 



Post Mortem. — The chest was opened just after all respiratory move- 

 ment had ceased, and the heart was seen to be still beating. The bladder 

 was full. The cerebral hemispheres were found to be entirely removed. 

 The cord at the seat of section was examined, and it was found that division 

 was complete, but there had been some crushing of the tissue on either side 

 of the section, and the dura mater was still intact. Although satisfied 

 that division was complete, it was thought that the crushing of the cord 

 may have caused irritation, which might possibly be held to account for the 

 movements observed in the hinder part of the body. It was resolved, there- 

 fore, to repeat the experiment. This was done as follows : — 



(Exp. 153.) A cat was chloroformed, the cord exposed, and completely 

 and cleanly divided in the mid-dorsal region. Five mlgm. of tutin were then 

 injected into the peritoneum, and chloroform anpesthesia discontinued. 

 Ten minutes later no reflex could be elicited from the left hind foot, while 

 the left fore foot responded normally. Fifteen minutes after the injection 

 of tutin twitching of the ears and jerking of the head began, and became 

 very distinct at twenty-four minutes. Two minutes later a convulsive 

 movement of the fore part of the body occurred, and was accompanied hy 

 a movement of the tail. These convulsive movements of the fore part of the 

 body continued for nearly an hour, and the animal died an hour and seven- 

 teen minutes after the injection of tutin. About half an hour after the cord 

 had been divided and tutin injected, reflexes could be obtained from the 

 hind limbs ; and ten minutes later a stimulus applied to one hind limb 

 caused movements of both. During the last half-hour of life the move- 

 ments of the tail became more and more marked. They generally appeared 

 just at the beginning of each convulsive seizure of the fore part of the body, 

 but they also occurred independently. Sometimes the whole tail was 

 moved from the root, at other times there was only a slight movement of 

 the tip. One hour after section of the cord convulsive movements (tonic 

 and clonic spasms) of the hind limbs occurred, and were accompanied by 

 defaecation and erection of the hairs of the tail. These convulsive move- 

 ments were frequently repeated. By this time the fore part of the body 

 had become almost quiescent, but the spasms of the hind limbs increased 

 in severity until death. It was in this experiment that the heart was 

 observed to beat intermittently during the long-drawn, obstructed inspira- 

 tions. When respiration had ceased, it continued to beat regularly for two 

 minutes and a quarter. 



The conclusion to be drawn from these two experiments is that the con- 

 vulsions that occur in tutin poisoning may originate in the lower centres of 

 the pons, medulla, and cord. The action on the cord is a late appearance, 

 and this corresponds to the finding of Gottlieb (28) that picrotoxin can elicit 

 convulsions below a section of the spinal cord, and that these appear later 



