14 ON THE NATURE AND ACTION OF THE 



30'. Cornea insensible. Eespiration has ceased. Post- 

 mortem examination made immediately. The left ventricle was 

 much dilated, the right ventricle empty. There were two 

 beats of the left auricle for every one of the ventricle, and the 

 ventricular beat was weak and imperfect. 



Experiment IV. 



Dissolved 1 centigramme of a substance like gum, and 

 labelled " alcoholic extract of cobra-poison," in 1 c.c. of water. 

 It dissolved easily and formed a somewhat opalescent solution. 



Injected about one-third of this (equal to 3-J milligrammes 

 of the dried extract) under the skin of the thigh of a rabbit 

 weighing about a kilogramme. 



Four minutes after the injection there was no apparent 

 effect; so a similar quantity was again injected, making the 

 total amount received by the rabbit 7 milligrammes of 

 extract : 5J minutes after the first injection the animal became 

 very restless. 



7'. Eespiration rapid. The vessels of the ears were noticed 

 to be much injected. On continuing to observe them the 

 injection disappeared and then returned again. The alternate 

 filling and emptying of the vessels was much more perceptible 

 than in the normal condition. The rabbit sits quietly, but 

 every now and then gives a start. 



22'. The condition of the ears has continued the same. The 

 eyes are becoming half shut and the eyeballs turned up. 



The animal now begins to tremble. The head is laid down 

 on the table and then raised again : this is succeeded by a 

 nodding motion of the head. The head is next laid down on 

 the table, 



Eespirations 22 in 15 seconds. 



24'. The animal has sunk down on its face and paws, as if 

 its fore legs would no longer support it. The hind legs, 

 however, still support the posterior part of the body. Eespira- 

 tions 11 in 10 seconds. It seems to be trying in vain to raise 

 its head. 



26'. Eespirations 8 in 10 [seconds. Convulsions. The 



