50 REPORT — 1867. 



anaesthesia, and, up to what would seem the extremity of living action, sbme 

 evidence of sensibility — reflex — is shown when irritation is applied. Brought 

 to the lowest state of prostration by methylic alcohol, an animal will always 

 recover slowly in a warm atmosphere ; the period required for recovery being 

 from four to six hom-s at 65° F. Diuing recovery there are no active con- 

 vulsive movements, and tremors are not marked symptoms. 



When the intoxication arising from methylic alcohol is carried to the ex- 

 tent of destrojdng life, the respiration and circulation cease almost simulta- 

 neously. The lungs are left with a fair amount of blood, and both sides of 

 the heart contain blood. The brain is much engorged with blood, and aU the 

 vascular organs are in the same state. The blood is not objectively changed 

 in character. At fi^rst, during the state of excitement, it gives to the external 

 vascular parts a marked redness ; but as the symptoms are more permanent 

 on the one side, or as recovery is pronounced on the other side, this passes 

 away. The coagulation of blood is somewhat prolonged, but is not pre- 

 vented. 



The evidence, on the whole, is to the effect that methylic alcohol influences 

 principally the motor centres of the neiwous system. At all events these 

 centres are prominently influenced, and it is probably only when they begin 

 to fail that the centres of consciousness and sensation succumb. In this 

 respect the methylic, the ethylic, and the amylic alcohols have a common 

 action. But on comparing the effects generally of methylic alcohol with those 

 of amylic and of ethylic or common alcohol, I find the methylic much less 

 potent. It produces prostration and muscular paralysis more quickly, but from 

 that prostration recovery is far more rapid. I showed, previously, in regard to 

 amylic alcohol that when the loss of power of the animal under its influence 

 is complete a peculiar symptom is developed, viz. a universal tremor, accom- 

 panied with a very deep inspiration. There is no spasm, no pain, no rigidity, 

 but, in medical language, rigors of an intense kind. These rigors are soon 

 established in regular rhythm, and by maintaining the experiment cautiously, 

 they may be kept up for several hours. I have seen them for one hour at 

 the rate of sixteen in a minute as regularly as possible, and by reduction 

 of the agent have lowered them to twelve, eight, and foiu* per minute. All 

 through the breathing is tranquil and the action of the heart good. The 

 rigor occurs spontaneously in this manner, but it can be excited at any mo- 

 ment by touching the animal or blowing upon it, or even by a sharp noise, 

 such as the snap of the finger. "When the animal is reduced to entire insen- 

 sibility, if it be laid in the open air it begins to recover its sensibility at 

 once, but the power to move is suspended for two or three hours, and the 

 rigors also continue, but with decreasing force and frequency. Ultimately 

 the animal recovers thoroughly, and is always very eager for food. When 

 these urgent and, as they would seem, extreme symptoms are carried to their 

 full extent, even an experienced observer would think that recovery wei-e im- 

 possible; but in truth the animal cannot be killed by any fair play with amylic 

 alcohol. In order actually to kill, it is necessary to complicate the experi- 

 ment by actual reduction of air, or by closing the chamber and retaining the 

 carbonic acid of the breath. I showed again, in regard to ethylic alcohol, 

 that in a minor degree these same symptoms were developed. In poisoning 

 by metliylic alcohol these symptoms are ncarlj- altogether absent. The recovery 

 is not only rapid, but casj', approaching, in fact, recoveiy from the inhala- 

 tion of ether. 



I notice specially this difference of action of the three analogous alcohols 



