892 Dr. T.R..Fraser on the Moth of the Ordeal-Bean. 
the bean, as, supposing the kernel to be received into its ali- 
mentary system, the existence of a special assimilative selection 
might be shown, or it could be determined if the eaterpillar 
were proof against this deadly poison. 
That the kernel is received into the digestive system is evinced 
by the presence of the characteristic starch-granules in the ex- 
crement, and is rendered certain by the following experiment, 
(Exp. 1.) A small piece of kernel, weighing exactly 7 grains, 
was placed in a porcelain vessel with six active caterpillars. At 
the end of forty-eight hours, the kernel was found to have lost 
one grain in weight, and to have two holes (almost perforations) 
on its inner surface, of nearly the same form and size as those 
which occur through the spermoderm. The caterpillars were 
active and lively, and continued so six days after. A quan- 
tity of excrement was found in the dish, with the characters 
already described. 
That the starch-granules of the kernel were not received into 
the alimentary system separated in any way from the poisonous 
principle was shown by the following experiments with the 
excrement. This was carefully separated from the numerous 
ageregations found outside the bean, to avoid as far as possible 
any admixture with broken-up kernel. 
(Hap. 2.) One detached fragment was washed, then tritu- 
rated with a little water, and a drop of this applied to the con- 
junctiva of a rabbit. In six minutes, it caused a contraction of 
the pupil, which became extreme in ten. 
(Lap. 3.) Half a grain of the detached cylinders of excre- 
ment was triturated, moistened, and formed into a small pill, 
which was placed in the pharynx of a linnet. Perfect paralysis 
of the legs was caused in four minutes, together with marked 
contraction of the pupils (from —4,th to 4,nd of an inch in diam.), 
defecation and lachrymation. In seven minutes, life was extinct. 
The post-mortem appearances showed that death had occurred 
by syncope. 
From these experiments it was evident that no bad conse- 
quences resulted from the presence of the active principle of the 
bean in the alimentary canal of the caterpillar. To determine 
the result of an introduction imto the vascular system, experi- 
ments 4 and 5 were tried. 
(Exp. 4.) An incision was made through the epidermis of a 
lively caterpillar, and a little of the active principle of the bean 
(the alkaloid esermia) was introduced. No evident effect was 
produced, and the caterpillar was quite active four days after- 
wards. 
(Exp. 5.) With Wood’s hypodermic syringe, half a minim of a 
solution of eserinia (a grain to 8 minims of distilled water) was 
=<. 
