476 ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF NITRO-GLYCERINE. 



tongue and muscles of the lower jaw worked at each inspiration, 

 so that the tongue lolled back and forwards like that of a dog 

 which has been running. This action we have never observed 

 in cats, either during health or after the administration of any- 

 other poison. The nostrils also moved with the respirations,, 

 and muscular twitching was observed over the body. The 

 cornea was now found to be insensible, and pinching called 

 forth no action in the limbs ; but when the tail was pinched, a 

 deep inspiration took place. Slight spasms resembling hiccough 

 now occurred, and in live minutes more the animal died, two- 

 hours and five minutes after the injection of the poison. 



A large dose (10 cubic centimetres) injected in the same way 

 almost immediately caused the respiration to become rapid 

 (120 per minute) and the gait staggering. The animal also- 

 cried, the tongue lolled out in the manner already described,, 

 and the third eyelids were drawn half over the eyes in the 

 same manner as we have seen them in other cats after division 

 of the vagi. In five minutes the respirations had reached 

 160 per minute, and the animal lay quite quiet. In 15 minutes- 

 voluntary action was quite paralysed, and reflex almost entirely 

 so. When either the fore or hind legs were drawn out, na 

 attempt was made to draw them up to the body, the limbs 

 seeming quite paralysed. On tickling the inside of the ear,, 

 however, the ear was moved ; and on touching the cornea, the 

 eyelids closed. 



On applying a strong induced current 20 minutes after the. 

 injection to various parts of the body and legs, muscular twitch- 

 ings were produced, but no reflex movements. 



In five minutes more, respiration became slow and gasping 

 (6 per minute) ; the tongue ceased to loll, and in live minutes- 

 more the animal was dead, 30 minutes after the injection. 



On post-mortem examination the heart was found still 

 pulsating, and the blood of a somewhat chocolate colour. 



The principal effects produced by nitro-glycerine are thus- 

 seen to be— great acceleration cf the respiiation, paralysis, loss 

 of reflex action, and apparently to a great degree of sensation,, 

 and death from stoppage of the respiration. The minor symp- 

 toms are muscular twitching and vomiting. 



