102 SPECIAL PHYSIOLOGY 



XIV. THE ACTION OF PILOCARPINE UPON THE HEART. 



1. Material. One rabbit; one dog; hydrochlorate of pilocarpine; 

 sulphate of morphine; sulphate of atropine; chloroform. 



2. Preparation. Make solution of pilocarpine, 50 grm. to 10 c.c. ; 

 atropine, 0.02 grm. to 10 c.c.; morphine, 0.6 to 10 c.c. 



Do not fasten the rabbit to the holder. Fasten the dog to the 

 dog board, after giving preliminary hypodermic injection of 0.03 

 grm. of morphine. 



3. Experiments and Observations. (1) Give, hypodermically, 

 5 mg. per kg. pilocarpine to rabbit. Record weight, pulse, and tem- 

 perature. Note secretions and size of pupils. 



(a) Record symptoms as they arise, especially as regards: 



(I) Secretions. 

 (II) Pulse rate. 



(III) Size of pupil. 



(IV) Temperature. 

 (V) Weight. 



(6) Formulate the total effect of pilocarpine upon the animal. 



(2) After morphinizing the dog, fasten it firmly to the dog board 

 and lightly anaesthetize; expose both vagi. Count the pulse. Give 

 a subcutaneous injection of 0.03 grm. pilocarpine. After salivation 

 has become profuse count the pulse again. 



How does pilocarpine affect the pulse rate? 



(3) Now sever the vagi. 



(a) How does the severing of the vagi affect the normal animal ? 

 (6) How does it affect an animal poisoned by pilocarpine? 



(c) Could pilocarpine alter the effect produced by severing vagi 

 if it acted on the proximal side of the point at which the vagi were 

 cut? On a point beyond that at which they were cut? 



(d) Could the pilocarpine alter the effect normally produced by 

 severing the vagi, by acting on the cardiac sympathetic? 



(e) Enumerate the possible points at which pilocarpine may act 

 to produce the effects observed. 



(4) Give the same dog 5 mg. atropine, hypodermically. 

 (a) Is the rate of heart beat altered? 



(6) Where does atropine act to produce alteration in rate of heart 

 beat? 



(c) Does atropine antagonize the action of pilocarpine in this 

 experiment ? 



(d) To what elements have you limited the probable action of 

 pilocarpine? 



(5) General observations. 



(a) Compare the action of pilocarpine with that of atropine 

 throughout the range of action observed. 



(6) Is atropine a physiological antagonist of pilocarpine? 



