PlIVblOLOCilCAL ACTION OF DKilTALlS. 39 



after taking digitaliue, which I had got from Mr. Morson him- 

 self, who said it liad been carefully pre[)aied, and might be 

 relied on, I believe tliese effects may be produced by digitaline, 

 and are not, as M. Homollc seems to think, entirely owing to 

 digitalic acid. 



PiiYSiOLOGicAii Action. 



On Plants. — Marcet* found infusion of digitalis in a few 

 seconds caused a slight crisping of the leaves of a haricot plant 

 introduced into it by the root, and next day the plant was dead. 

 On treating a haricot in the same way with solution of digitaline 

 (^i^ths of a grain in ^ii of water), I did not notice the 

 sudden crisping of the leaves, which, however, in the course of 

 a day became dry and rough, in two days were rolled in at the 

 edges, and finally became quite dry and shrivelled, but retained 

 their natural colour. 



On Animals. — As the general action of digitalis, in varying 

 doses, has been carefully examined, and the sequence of symp- 

 toms accurately noted by Messrs. Bouley and lieynalf in their 

 experiments on horses, I subjoin their account of them. 



Six or eight hours after giving a large dose of digitalis to 

 horses, they stand at the stretch of their halter, sad, dejected, 

 and without appetite, and tlieir coat lustreless and rough. Then 

 signs of general excitement appear. The conjunctivae are 

 injected and of a bright red, the eyes brilliant and fixed, the 

 face pinched, the nostrils dilated and quivering, respiration 

 hurried, the numl)er being 15 to 20 or 25 in a minute, circula- 

 tion more rapid, tlie beats of the heart being abrupt, their energy 

 much increased, and accompanied, after a certain time, by a 

 vibratory thrill, with a decided metallic tinkling, and, as poison- 

 ino: "oes on, a distinct bellows murmur becomes audible, and is 

 rendered louderbyany exertion; the beats then show a decided 

 intermittence, and the pulse is small, thready, and intermittent. 

 The heat of the body is increased, and hot sweats appear on tn<' 

 ears, nose, shoulders, and fianks. The mouth is hot, and filled 

 with saliva, which is sticky and scanty. The tongue is of a 



* Annals de Chem. et de Physique, v, xxix. 



t liecueil de Med. Tettrin. Fraiiqve, 3 ser., to:i e vi, p. £C.7, 18:0 (II. :iiul Q.;. 



