PURPLE LARKSPUR. 77 



solved in 30 per cent alcohol as in experiment 3, and li c. c, the 

 equivalent of 2i grams, injected hypodermically into a 55-ounce rabbit, 

 but with no marked results. 



In the next four experiments the extracts used were obtained by 

 Mr. I. Cockrell from flowering plants which were rather badly wilted. 

 The plants were divided into four parts — the roots, stems, leaves, and 

 Mowers — each of which was extracted over night with water at ordi- 

 nary temperature and warmed a half hour at blood heat the next day. 

 After this the extracts were filtered, and they were then ready for use. 

 No extracts were made from this material with other solvents than 

 water. 



Experiment 6. — On June 1 15 c. c. of the root extract, representing 

 10 grams of the wilted plant, was fed to a 2-pound rabbit at 3.22 p. m. 

 No effect having been noted, the dose was increased to 20 c. c. at 4.25. 

 This was likewise without any marked effect, as was a third dose of 

 28 c. c, which was administered on June 6. 



Experiment 7. — On June 1 15 c. c. of the stem extract, representing 

 5 grams of the wilted plant, was fed to a rabbit. Both the heart and 

 the lungs were slightly stimulated, but in an attempt one hour later to 

 administer a second dose the animal was accidentally killed. 



Experiment 8. — On Ma}^ 31 10 c. c. of the leaf extract, representing 

 <*.| grams of the wilted leaves, was fed to a 26-ounce rabbit at 2.45 p. m. 

 A- slight uneasiness was noticed at 3.30, but otherwise the animal 

 remained perf ectl}^ normal. . Neither did any pronounced results follow 

 a second feeding of 20 c. c. given at 8.5 p. m. 



Experiment 9. — On May 31 10 c. c. of the flower extract, represent- 

 ing 3i grams of the withered flowers, was fed to a 47-ounce rabbit at 

 11.27 a. m. At 11.55 there was considerable uneasiness, which was 

 made evident by a shaking of the head and by holding the breath and 

 then breathing rapidly. In addition to these symptoms drowsiness set 

 in at about 12.43. At 2.05 there was a rhj^thmical movement of the 

 head with each respiratory movement, which seemed to indicate that 

 the brain was being affected. At 3.5 p. m. 30 c. c. more was given, 

 but the only additional symptom noted was increased difficulty in 

 breathing. At 8.5 30 c. c. more was given, but the s3"mptoms were 

 not noted. The effect was not fatal. 



Summing up the results of these experiments, we find that the most 

 prominent, easih^ observable sj^mptoms were a stimulation of the respi- 

 ration and a brain symptom manifested b}^ dizziness or a rhythmical 

 movement of the head. As it was not the object of the experiment to 

 determine the symptoms of poisoning, these having been already 

 secured b}^ Dr. Wilcox, no special effort was made to determine the 

 pulse rate, but it was to be noted that in experiment 2, which was 

 as nearly fatal as any, the heart action was extremeh^ rapid and weak. 



None of the experiments proved fatal and no results were obtained 

 on which a satisfactory trial of the permanganate of potassium as an 



