498 ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF CASCA BARK. 



either coughed or vomited up a small quantity of frothy- 

 mucus. When seen the next morning it was to all appear- 

 ance well, and was killed, to prevent suffering being caused 

 by the secondary effects of section of the vagi, which were 

 found to be completely divided. 



Experiment XXV. — May 17. 



This experiment was similar to Nos. XXIII and XXIV. As 

 before, no vomiting was produced by injection of the drug after 

 section of the vagi, but death occurred 1 hour and 10 minutes 

 after the injection, in consequence of dyspnoea occasioned by the 

 section of these nerves. 



Action of Casca on Eespiration. 



Powdered casca, when inhaled, acts as a violent sternutatory. 

 All the men employed by us in grinding or pounding the bark 

 Buffered severely from the violent and irresistible fits of sneezing 

 which attacked them ; and in one instance these were accom- 

 panied by great faintness and tendency to syncope. 



When injected into the circulation casca greatly accelerates 

 the respirations (Experiments I, II, XXXIV). 



This acceleration appears to be due to stimulation of the pul- 

 monary branches of the vagus, and not to any action of the 

 drug upon the respiratory centre, as no acceleration is noticed 

 when the vagi are divided before the injection of the casca 

 (Experiments XXIII and XXIV). 



Action on the Intestines. 



Experiment XXVI. 



In order to ascertain whether the intestinal secretion was 

 increased by casca, a cat was chloroformed, the abdomen opened, 

 and three loops of small intestine ligatured. Into the middle 

 loop 2 c.c. of a concentrated solution of the watery extract of casca 

 were injected, and 2 c.c. of water into the other two. The cat 

 vomited about an hour afterwards. At the end of about 5 hours, 

 the animal was killed and the body examined. The upper and 



