EXPERIMENTS WITH DEATH CAMAS. 55 



became irregular, but the heart beat was about normal. The princi- 

 pal poisonous action was undoubtedl.y on the lungs. The hind legs 

 were paralyzed, and soon the animal became entirely motionless, as if 

 narcotized. It was sensitive to needle pricks, but would permit its 

 hind legs to be placed in unnatural positions. The heart action was 

 good during most of the time. The breathing gradually improved, 

 but the rabbit remained motionless for several hours. Complete 

 nervous prostration was apparent throughout the whole of the next 

 day, the animal appearing as if narcotized. It ate no food, and died 

 during the next night. 



Experiment ^.— One cubic centimeter of the same leaf extract pre- 

 viously used was administered on May 22, at 4.10 p. m. , subcutaneously 

 to a 2-pound rabbit. The first symptom, a marked choking action 

 with an oft-repeated backward motion of the head, appeared at 4.27. 

 At 4.35 it was noticed that the breathing was irregular and slow, and 

 that the animal was very much disinclined to move. At 5 the breath- 

 ing was still very much impaired, but the heart action was good. The 

 rabbit had been motionless since 4.35. At 6 it was reported to be in 

 nearly the same condition, and on the next morning the recovery was 

 practically complete. 



Experiment 3. — One cubic centimeter of the root extract was admin- 

 istered hypodermically to a rabbit weighing about 2 pounds, on May 

 ^2, at 4.45 p. m. At 5 there was a slight throbbing or dizzy motion 

 of the head. At 5.2 it was walking about in a lively manner, but 

 with a peculiar ambling gait, the fore leg having been partially para- 

 lyzed. This was continued for about half an hour, the animal being 

 not at all comfortable. At 6 it was reported to have been in a fair 

 way to recovery. During the night it made its escape from the pen, 

 and could not subsequently be recovered. 



Experiment Jf.. — Two cubic centimeters of the leaf extract was 

 injected hypodermically into a 2-pound rabbit May 23, at 11 a. m. 

 At 11.9 the choking began, and a little saliva began to run from the 

 mouth. At 11.15 the breathing was irregular and slow, the animal 

 having moved but little. At 11.17 it had spasms, falling backward 

 and sidewise. At 11.20 it had scarcely enough energy to keep its nose 

 ott the floor or to stand. At about 11.27, while dozing, it fell back- 

 ward in a spasm and lay prostrate on its stomach, with its head side- 

 wise on the floor. Its hind legs were beyond control, its eyes were 

 rapid 13' losing their luster, and it was gasping for breath. Another 

 spasm occurred at 11.36, which was followed b}^ gasping. The respi 

 ration was, on the whole, very shallow. At 11.40 the rabbit was not 

 sensitive to needle pricks. There was more gasping and another 

 spasm. Two minutes later the pupils became contracted, and the 

 rabbit died after three minutes. 



The post-mortem examination made immediately after death showed 



