228 Transactions of the Canadian Institute. [Vol. VII. 



proved its potent action in stimulating the respiration, increasing "the 

 air movement," as it does in suitable doses, from lOO to 300 per cent. 

 Nevertheless the drug does not seem to have come into general use in 

 practice as a stimulant, although Lauder Brunton and others have 

 urged its value in conditions requiring stimulation. I have discussed 

 this question more fully elsewhere.^ 



I used ten dogs in studying the action of atropine in conjunction 

 with chloroform, and the results may be discussed under two headings : 



First, The effects of atropine when administered previously to the 

 giving of the anaesthetic, and 



Second, the antidotal action of atropine when given after poisoning 

 from chloroform has occurred. 



Seven of the dogs were previously given morphia, while three were 

 not so treated. 



In the first place it may be noted that the effect of gravity on an 

 animal under the influence of atropine may be quite as marked as without 

 it. In Tracing 46 the dog, while thoroughly under atropine, was placed 

 vertical at 5 and the pressure is seen to fall in a very decided manner. 

 This is scarcely what one would have expected on general principles, 

 and it may be that the heart is already beating up to its maximum and 

 hence can do no more when called upon to compensate for the fall in 

 pressure. In tracing 14, however, gravity produced very little effect 

 under similar conditions. 



The use of atropine with a view to preventing danger during the 

 administration of chloroform has long been strongly recommended by 

 certain writers, and has been as vigorously opposed by others. Many 

 anaesthetists, especially in Scotland, regularly give a hypodermic 

 injection of it either alone or combined with morphia before com- 

 mencing chloroform, and in Lyons this method is much used.-' The 

 Glasgow Commission found as a result of their experiments that 

 atropine lessened the danger of death from chloroform, believing as they 

 did that strong inhibition of the vagus from chloroform was a real 

 danger, which would be impossible when this nerve was paralyzed by 

 atropine. Lieut.-Col. Lawrie, on the other hand, representing the 

 second Hyderabad Commission, opposed the use of the drug, arguing 

 that : " If the Committee regard the effect of atropine as beneficial they 



1 " Notes on Atropine," by the author. Montreal Medical Journal, October, iqoo. 



2 " Les Accidents du Chloroforme et leur Remcde."' Ann. et Bull, de la Soc. de Mt^d. Gand. iSSg, 

 P- 253- 



