484 ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF CASCA BAItK. 



cessful attempts to vomit; the respiration became intermittent: 

 there was an oscillating movement of the eyeballs, and the pupils 

 were widely dilated. At 12 minutes the respiration became 

 slower, as well as irregular. At 16 minutes it was GO, irregular 

 and laboured. At 21 minutes the respiration appeared to be 

 entirely diaphragmatic. At 24 minutes there were strong, in- 

 effectual attempts at vomiting, followed by sudden stoppage of 

 respiration, and death in a condition of emprosthotonos. The 

 pupils at that time were widely dilated. 



On opening the thoiax immediately alter death, the ventricles 

 were found firmly contracted ; but they recommenced to pul- 

 sate, and continued to do so for a few minutes spontaneously. 

 They responded by a single contraction to irritation for 3| hours 

 after death. By this time the heart looked quite dry and glazed, 

 and rigor mortis was well marked in the muscles. The lungs 

 were pale. 



Experiment IT. — February 22. 



Effects of a Moderate Dose. 



Three c.c. of the same alcoholic solution were injected into 

 the abdominal cavity of a cat weighing 2238 grammes. At 

 25 minutes afterwards the animal vomited ; and this was 

 repeated at 35 minutes and 41 minutes. At 41 minutes the cat 

 seemed weak; respirations laboured, 60 per minute ; pulse, 100, 

 regular. At 55 minutes respirations 80, shallow, irregular. At 

 75 minutes respiration deeper and more laboured. At 85 minutes 

 the gait was staggering, and the limbs were moved with a jerk 

 at the end of each step ; respirations 40, more regular ; pulse 

 100, regular. Four hours after injection the animal was sleepy : 

 v/hen roused it walked feebly ; there was no further vomiting. 

 Its condition remained unaltered as long as it was observed ; 

 and it died between eight and twenty hours after the injection. 



On post mortem examination rigor mortis was well marked. 

 The abdomen contained some yellow serum. The stomach con- 

 tained no solid fo'od, but about 2 ounces of a greyish turbid 

 alkaline fluid. 



