Prof. Kolliker on the Action of Urari and of Strychnia. 883 



been in the slightest degree injured, so that it seems doubtful 

 whether the urari in any way affects them. 



7. The nerves of the involuntary muscles and of the glands are also 

 paralysed by the action of urari, at least I find this to be true in the 

 following cases, viz. — 



a. The pneumogastric, as regards its influence on the heart. 



b. The sympathetic (its cervical portion), in its relation to the 

 iris. 



c. The nerves of the posterior lymph-hearts of the frog. 



d. The nerves of the vessels in the web of the frog's foot. 



e. The splanchnic nerves of the rabbit, as affecting the peristaltic 

 motions. 



f. The nerves governing the secretion of the submaxillary gland 

 in dogs. 



8. The voluntary muscles remain perfectly excitable, but show a 

 greater tendency than usual to merely local contractions. In 

 general the cadaveric rigidity of these muscles appears to set in 

 later than usual. 



9. The plain or non-striated jniiscles also remain long irritable 

 after poisoning by urari. 



10. The heart, in amphibia, is little affected by urari. Its pul- 

 sation as well as the circulation of the blood goes on regularly for 

 many hours after the poisoning is established. The only thing 

 worthy of note is that the beat of the heart appears to be somewhat 

 quickened, probably from paralysis of the pneumogastric nerves. In 

 frogs poisoned with urari, the heart, when cut in two, shows the 

 usual phenomenon, namely, that the half which contains the ganglia 

 continues to pulsate whilst the other does not ; from which it may 

 be inferred that these ganglia are not paralysed. As to the nerves 

 in the substance of the heart, those at least which are derived from 

 the pneumogastric are unquestionably paralysed (vide No. 7). 



1 1 . The lymph-hearts of frogs poisoned with urari soon cease to 

 move. 



12. The blood of animals poisoned by urari is fluid and dark, but 

 coagulates when drawn from the vessels, and forms a weak clot which 

 is but little reddened by exposure to air. Directly mixed with 

 blood, urari does not prevent coagulation, but the blood in this case 

 also remains dark and scarcely reddens on exposure. 



13. The blood of animals poisoned by urari has the same poison- 

 ous qualities as that substance itself, but not in a degree sufficient 

 to produce the full effects of the poison. Urari when directly mixed 

 with blood loses none of its efficacy. 



14. Urari, in concentrated solution, apphed locally to nerves ex- 

 tinguishes their excitabihty, but only after a considerable time, and 

 it appears to act similarly on the nerves in the substance of the 

 muscles. Dilute solutions have no injurious operation. Applied 

 directly to the brain and spinal cord, urari is altogether harmless 

 provided its absorption be prevented. 



15. When artificial respiration is kept up in quadrupeds poisoned 

 with urari, I find that, as observed by Bernard, many of the secre- 



