863 



Fig. 2. Effect of HoO^ on the intestinal movements of the rabbit. Time in minutes. 



different in different rabbits. The effect of H^O^ does not last. When 

 it has passed off, an equal dose will no longer produce the same 

 result, so that the dose which at first proved very effective, gives, 

 when administered for the second or thii-d time no visible changes 

 in the curve. Probably substances promoting the intestinal motion 

 are decomposed by H^O,. This becomes more apparent on larger 

 doses being applied. The contractions then become smaller until the 

 movements stop altogether. This lesion takes place v/hen the concen- 

 tration of H,0, is about 1 : 15000. If the intestine is placed irj a 

 new TYRODE-solution, the contractions slowly come back. Hence we 

 have to deal here with a reversible process, just as in the case of 

 the phagocytes. If, however, the intestine has been damaged too 

 much, the contractions do not come back. 



Verworn's theory looks, as we know, upon narcosis as a kind 

 of acute dyspnoea. It seemed of some interest to investigate if the 

 oxygen of peroxides is prevented from acting when the intestine is 

 narcotized. It then appeared that the contractions of a piece of 

 intestine which was treated with CHCl,, stopped at a concentration 

 of about 1 : 1800. Now if H,0, was added in a concentration of 

 1 : 15000 or less, the tonus was indeed raised for a time, whilst 



61* 



