ACTION ON ANIMALS 131 



one, but occurs gradually and reaches a maximum only 

 after the lapse of a considerable interval of time. That 

 the rapidity with which this combination is effected depends 

 largely on temperature is shown by the fact that it occurs 

 much more rapidly in a solution kept in the incubator 

 than in one which is allowed to stand at room temperature. 



The results which follow the injection of a fatal dose of 

 the soluble poison intraperitoneally have already been 

 described. When a non-fatal dose has been injected the 

 symptoms first noticed are similar in all respects to those 

 following a fatal dose. The animal becomes restless, shows 

 signs of irritation of the peripheral nerves, incoordination, 

 and partial paralysis. The convulsive stage is not present, 

 as a rule, and when it is noticed is evidenced solely by 

 slight movements separated by considerable intervals of 

 time. We have never seen a case showing marked general- 

 ized convulsions which recovered. 1 Recovery is apparently 

 rapid and complete, and within two hours after injection 

 the animal which has been desperately ill appears as well 

 as any untreated animal. The maximum effect is obtained 

 within from forty-five to sixty minutes in every instance. 

 The study of the changes in temperature in these animals 

 is particularly interesting. Within fifteen minutes the 

 rectal temperature has begun to fall and has reached a 

 minimum within one hour. 



It remains stationary for a short time and then begins 

 to rise again, and at the end of three hours after the injection 

 has usually returned to normal or above. 



On injecting the soluble poison subcutaneously, we find 

 that animals are able to withstand a much larger dose 

 than when the poison is given intraperitoneally. Thus, in 

 the case of a poison, 60 mg. of which invariably killed 

 when given intraperitoneally, it was found that 120 mg. 

 could be given subcutaneously without causing a fatal 

 result. However, the injection of a solution containing 

 180 mg. invariably caused death, the fatal issue occurring 



1 This does rarely occur. 



