628 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION I. 
Section I.—PHYSIOLOGY. 
PRESIDENT OF THE SecTION.—Professor EK. H. Starzina, M.D., F.R.S. 
THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 
The following Papers and Report were read :— 
1. Observations on the Osmotic Pressure in the Blood of Fishes. 
By Professor A. B. Macauuum, F.R.S. 
2. Observations on the Inorganic Composition of the Blood of Fishes. 
By Professor A. B. Macauuum, F.R.S., and Dr. C. C. BENson. 
3. Report on Anesthetics.—See Reports, p. 296. 
4. Discussion on Anesthetics. 
5. On the Use of Atropine or the Allied Drugs Hyoscine, Hyoscyamine, 
Scopolamine, Daturine, Duboisine, in Conjunction with Anesthetics. 
By W. Wesster, M.D., C.M. 
The object of the present research was to test the efficiency of atropine 
as a restorative in poisoning by chloroform or other anesthetic, or as a 
precautionary measure before its administration, The use of atropine in one 
or other of these ways has been frequently advocated.* 
A striking discrepancy was noticed between the statements in the text- 
books and the results actually obtained, and so it was deemed advisable 
to perform an extensive series of experiments devoted to the physiological 
effects of atropine and its allies upon the heart, respiration and circulation. 
Atropine and the allied drugs mentioned in the title are generally 
supposed to be isomeric with each other, or very closely allied, and in 
regard both to their general physiological effects and to the question of 
the rapidly induced tolerance or immunity described later, all these drugs 
may be considered as identical.’ 
1 Schafer and Scharlieb, 77ans. Roy. Soc. Hdin., vol. xli. 1901. 
2 For information on the chemistry of these substances see Schmiedeberg, 
Pharmakologie, 1906; Tomasini, Atti dell. R. Accad. dell. Scienz. Med. Palermo, 
Ann. 1896; O. Hesse, Liebig’s Annalen; Bokenham, B.M.J., vol. xi. p. 597, 
1894; F. R. Pooley, Can. Lancet, Jan., 1895; Sharp, Practitioner, 1885, 1892, 
1893, 1894; Pharma. Jour., 1878. 
