86 Messrs. T. L. Brnnton and J. Fayrer on the [Jan. 22, 



with distilled water. Immediately after the application an almost 

 imperceptible trembling in the muscles occurred equally in both thighs ; 

 but it ceased after a few seconds, and did not reappear. On testing 

 the muscles soon afterwards, by an induced current applied directly to 

 them, those of the poisoned leg contracted feebly, but those of the non- 

 poisoned leg, forcibly. 



In this experiment, the quivering occurred equally in both thighs, and 

 was therefore obviously due to the water in which the poison was dis- 

 solved, and not to the poison itself. 



As Weir Mitchell found that the quivering produced by the poison of 

 the rattlesnake was not prevented by paralysis of the motor nerves by 

 curare, the previous experiment was repeated on a curarized frog. 



Experiment XXIV. 



September 4t7i. The motor nerves having been tested and found to be 

 completely paralyzed, a strong solution of cobra-poison was applied to a 

 cut in the back of the right thigh. No quivering of the muscles could be 

 observed after its application. The poison was only applied to the 

 middle of the back of the right thigh. After a few minutes,, those 

 muscles with which it had come into contact did not contract when irritated 

 by the direct application of an induced current. Distance of secondary 

 from the primary coil 0. The muscles of the sides and front of the 

 poisoned thigh, as well as those of the other thigh, contracted well when 

 irritated in the same way, with the coil at 13 centimetres. 



The poison paralyzes the muscles of warm-blooded animals in much 

 the same way as those of frogs ; and it seems probable from the following 

 experiment, that the paralysis of the wounded limb, which is very fre- 

 quently noticed in cases of snake-bite, is partly due to the local action of 

 the poison upon the muscles. 



Experiment XXV. 



September 4t7i. Injected 5 or 6 drops of a strong but not perfectly 

 concentrated solution of dried cobra-poison into the muscles of the left 

 thigh of a guineapig. 



12.43 P.M. Injection made. The animal immediately became much 

 excited, and rushed about wildly, crying loudly. 



1 2.47. The leg seemed paralyzed and dragged behind the animal. 



12.48. It ground its teeth and cried. 



12.50. Began to start, and cried more loudly. Took it in my arms. 

 It then became quiet. 

 12.52. Shivered. 



12.58. Laid the guineapig on its side on the table. It lay still and 

 did not attempt to rise. Respiration was still going on. 



12.59. Cut off the head of this guineapig (JS T o. 1), and immediately 

 after decapitated another, healthy guineapig of nearly the same size (No. 2). 



