268 THE LAWS OF O11GAN1C 



slow, a few drops of alcohol were applied, which imme- 

 diately increased their frequency. 



EXPERIMENT V. 



Opium was applied first in this experiment. The con- 

 tractions of the heart became immediately rapid and irre- 

 gular, and continued for 20 seconds ; in 10 seconds more 

 they became slow, and were observed to be in this state for 

 40 seconds, at which time spirits of wine were applied, but 

 did not appear to produce any very obvious change, except 

 that the motions were converted from their former irregu- 

 lar character into one somewhat undulatory. 



EXPERIMENT VI. 



In this experiment prussic acid was applied first. In 

 80 seconds from the application the heart had almost ceased 

 to contract. Alcohol and opium were afterwards em- 

 ployed, but did not produce any obvious effects. 



To show still more satisfactorily that the nervous sys- 

 tem has little, if any influence, in transmitting the effects 

 of the different agents to the heart, the subsequent experi- 

 ments were performed. If this can be shown, it necessarily 

 follows, that the small or extensive surface, alluded to by 

 WILSON PHILIP, is to be considered as merely presenting 

 different degrees of facility for the absorption of what is 

 applied to the brain. 



EXPERIMENT VII. 



The animal being made insensible, we cut down upon 

 the lumbar vertebrae ; and, having separated two of them, 

 a heated iron was passed from this point as far as the cer- 

 vical, and was allowed to remain there during the experi- 

 ment. The parietes of the abdomen were then divided 



