298 Transactions. 



to 0-375 mlgm. per kilo of body-weight, 1 mlgm. of tutin being injected 

 under the skin of a cat weighing 2-688 kilograms, and, curiously, symptoms 

 made their appearance earlier in this case than in the last. It defsecated 

 and began to breathe quickly within twelve minutes of the injection ; saliva- 

 tion was noticed at fourteen minutes, and at twenty-four minutes it was 

 panting with its mouth open, and vomited. Twitching appeared at thirtv- 

 two minutes, and the first convulsion occurred at fifty-five minutes. Con- 

 vulsions were severe and frequently repeated, and it was thought that the 

 cat would die. It had a severe convulsion at 6.5 p.m., and it was not seen 

 again till 7-15 jj.m. It then appeared rather tremulous, and was easily 

 startled, bu.t presented no further symptoms, and was quite well next day. 

 It would seem that 0-375 mlgm. per kilo is very near the minimum lethal 

 dose. 



In the last three cats the constant symptoms were defsecation, rapid 

 breathing, salivation, twitching, and general convulsions, and these generally 

 made their appearance in the order named. The first cat did not defaecate 

 voluntarily, and neither of the first two vomited. The vomiting in the 

 last two occurred only once in each case. In the first convulsion in each 

 case the tonic stage was the more pronounced, and was invariably of the 

 opisthotonic type. Later, clonic spasms were more in evidence, and with 

 lethal doses, when the case was making towards a termination, movement 

 was hardly absent for a moment. With the larger doses the effect upon the 

 mental activities of the animals vras very marked. From the first they seemed 

 dazed, and once general convulsions had set in they were oblivious of everv- 

 thing. With the smaller doses the cerebrum was little affected, and often 

 after the most severe and prolonged convulsions, in the case of the cat that 

 recovered, the animal would rise and behave as if little had happened, answer- 

 ing when spoken to, and even purring. 



(6.) Action on Babbits. 



Kabbits are less readily affected by the poison. The largest hypodermic 

 dose recovered from was 2 mlgm. per kilo (Exp. 5), (in a cat, 0*75 mlgm. 

 per kilo proved fatal). A dose of 2*5 mlgm. per kilo was fatal in two hours 

 and a half (Exp. 6), and doses larger than this killed rather rapidly (Exps. 7, 

 139). By oral administration a much larger dose than this is required to 

 kill — e.g., in Exp. 8, 7'5 mlgm. per kilo proved fatal in two hours ; in 

 Exp. 9, 6 mlgm. per kilo was fatal in twelve hours ; while in Exp. 10, 

 5 mlgm. per kilo was recovered from. In one case (Exp. 161) death preceded 

 by typical symptoms followed the instillation of four drops of a 0"5-per-cent. 

 solution into the conjunctival sac. 



Attempts to poison rabbits with fresh tutu-leaves failed, for the animals, 

 though deprived of all other food for several days, steadfastly refused to eat. 



Symptoms. — No important symptoms appear that have not been men- 

 tioned as occurring in cats. After a lethal dose the animal at first appears 

 dazed, tends to assume unnatural attitudes — e.g., lies on the abdomen, 

 with the legs projecting in front and behind — and the gait is altered. 

 Eespiration soon becomes very rapid, and there may be salivation, though 

 it is not so marked a symptom as it is in cats. Alteration in the size of the 

 pupil is not so noticeable. Twitching of the eyelids, lips, ears, and fore- 

 paws occurs, and is followed by general convulsions. In the convulsion 

 the tonic spasms are not so evident as they are in cats, but they do occur, 

 and are of the opisthotonic type. As a rule, after the first violent con- 

 vulsive movements are over, the animal continues lying on its side, and 



