314 Profs. J. T. Cash and W. R. DunMun. [Mar. 5, 



pounds. Amidobenzene and nitrobenzene are less active in producing 

 rigor. 



The respiration is considerably and early affected in warm-blooded 

 animals (cats) by benzene and its compounds. There is usually a 

 primary acceleration, followed by slowing. The "heart appeared to 

 stop before the respiration in poisoning by benzene and its haloid 

 compounds, by ethylbenzene, amidobenzene, and nitrobenzene, whilst 

 respiration usually failed before the heart, or nearly at the same time, 

 in poisoning by the methylbenzenes and oxy benzenes. 



The first effect of the benzene compounds on the pulse or on blood 

 pressure is usually a quickening of the pulse and a rise in the pres- 

 sure. This is followed by slowing of the pulse and fall of the 

 pressure. 



In their preliminary communication in 1887, the authors directed 

 attention to the curious resemblance between the tremor caused by 

 benzene and some other aromatic substances in frogs and the 

 symptoms of disseminated sclerosis in man. In the present paper, 

 they point out also the likeness between the violent slapping move- 

 ments caused in the frog by some of the haloid compounds of benzene, 

 as well as by amidobenzene, and the symptoms of locomotor ataxy in 

 man. 



IV. " The Physiological Action of the Paraffinic Nitrites con- 

 sidered in connexion with their Chemical Constitution. 

 Part I. The Action of the Paraffinic Nitrites on Blood 

 Pressure." By J. THEODORE CASH, M.D., F.R.S., Professor 

 of Materia Medica in the University of Aberdeen, and 

 WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M. A., Professor of Chemistry to the 

 Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Received March 4, 

 189L 



(Abstract.) 



CONTENTS. 

 I. Introductory. 

 II. Description of the Nitrites and of the processes used in preparing them. 



III. Action of Anijl Nitrite. Description of the Method of Investigation. 



IV. Action of other Paraffinic Nitrites contrasted with that of Amyl Nitrite. 

 V. General Summary of Blood Pressure Experiments. 



VI. General Consideration of the Modification f Nitrite-action induced by 



Splanchnic Stimulation and Section. 

 VII. Action of Nitrites on the Human Subject. 



The present investigation was commenced three years ago, in order 

 to throw further light on the mode of action of the paraffin ic nitrites 

 when introduced into the animal organism, and particularly to deter-. 



