342 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF CONDURANGO. 



probability due to the injection of the fluid, and not to the 

 action of the drug, as it occurred immediately after the opera- 

 tion and before there had been time for much to be absorbed. 



The death of one frog after the injection can hardly be 

 attributed to the Condurango, as the animal was observed to be 

 less active than the others previous to the injection, and death 

 did not occur till several days afterwards. 



General Action on Mammals. 



The experiments on this point were made exclusively on 

 rabbits. 



Experiment VIII. — One gramme (15*4 grs.) of the extract 

 was dissolved in 20 cub. cent, of a solution of one part NaCl in 

 200 of water. It was dissolved in ^ per cent. NaCl solution in 

 preference to water, in order to avoid the irritation which water 

 itself produces when brought in contact with the tissues of the 

 body. Ten cubic centimetres of this solution were injected 

 into the peritoneal cavity of the body weighing 936 grammes 

 (2 lb. 1 oz.). 



No effect whatever was observed. 



Thirty-four minutes afterwards the remaining 10 cub. cent, 

 were injected. No effect was produced. The solution had not 

 been filtered. 



In order to test the effect of the injection of saline solution 

 itself, 10 cub. cent, were injected into the peritoneal cavity of a 

 rabbit weighing 425 grammes (1 lb. 15 oz.). 



It produced no effect. 



Next day both animals were perfectly well and lively. They 

 seemed to have passed a good deal of water during the night, 

 but as they were both in the same cage it was impossible to 

 say how much had been passed by each. Both animals were 

 kept under observation for several days, but no further effect 

 of the injection was noticed. The increased urination was 

 probably only due to the water which had been injected. 



Experiment IX. — One gramme (15*4 grs.) of extract was 

 mixed with 10 cub. cent, of water. The solution was not 

 filtered, and contained little particles. A cannula was placed 



