TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION 1. 641 
the Tongue‘ as we have already shew’d at large, by its different Motions, and by 
its partial Taste.’ 
Surely no student of physiology accustomed to search the sources of his know- 
ledge in the words spoken or written by the great students of Nature who have 
themselves first raised some corner of the veil, can fail to recognise that Patrick 
Blair was a great student, and that his intelligence in 1710 of the functional 
attributes of the fifth and seventh nerves was far superior to that of Charles 
Bell in 1821, and of Herbert Mayo in 1822, and was surpassed in precision only 
by the illuminating discovery of Magendie in 1822 upon the nerve-roots, whereby 
order was imposed upon our elementary conceptions of the nervous system, and 
the fifth and seventh nerves assigned to their proper place in that order. 
10. The Electrocardiogram by the Oscillograph. 
By Avuaustus D. Wauter, M.D., F.RB.S. 
11. On Blood Coagulation. By Drs. W. Cramer and H. Prince. 
12. On the Biochemistry of Growth. By Dr. W. Cramer. 
13. The Physiological Action of Quaternary Methyl-, Ethyl-, and 
Methyl-Ethyl-Ammonium Compounds. By C. R. Marswatp. 
These tetra-alkyl-ammonium compounds present some features of interest from 
a physiological point of view. Like most quaternary compounds they exert, in 
Irogs, a depressant action on the myoneural junction of voluntary muscle, and 
in sufficient doses cause complete muscular paralysis. The tetra-methyl- 
ammonium compounds are most powerful in this respect, and the tetra-ethyl 
compounds are weakest. ‘The dose, injected into the dorsal lymph sac, neces- 
sary to abolish spontaneous muscular movements and loss of hind-limb reflexes 
in frogs of approximately 10 grammes in weight was found to be for 
Mg. per Gramme 
Body-weight 
Tetra-methyl-ammonium chloride . : 0°02 
‘Trimethyl-ethyl-ammonium chloride. : - 0025 
Dimethyl-diethyl-ammonium chloride . : . 025 
Methyl-triethyl-ammonium chloride. : auel@ 
Tetra-ethyl-ammonium chloride . : : op aio 
Contraction of the pupils and weakening or paralysis of the pulmonary 
respiration are the earliest symptoms. In the case of tetra-ethyl-ammonium 
chloride fibrillary contractions of all the muscles quiekly develop and form the 
most marked feature of the intoxication. ‘They occur in frogs in which the 
brain and spinal cord have been destroyed, and they can be prevented or 
abolished by tetra-methyl-ammonium chloride. In frogs to which methyl- 
triethyl-ammonium chloride has been given somewhat similar contractions can 
be developed for a short time by shaking the table, and they occur when the 
animal is laid down. These fibrillary contractions were not seen after the 
administration of any other members of the series. The heart and muscles are 
affected by these substances, but to a less extent—except, perhaps, in the case 
of tetra-ethyl-ammonium chloride—than the motor-nerve endings. 
In mamuinals the only effect of these substances I have studied with care is 
that upon the respiration. When 1 to 2 mg. tetra-methyl-ammonium chloride 
is injected intravenously into anesthetised rabbits or cats the respiration ceases 
1 ‘T think I may with good Reason make an analogy between it (the Pro- 
‘boscis) and the Tongue: For besides there is a great Affinity betwixt the Smell- 
ing and Tasting, since what’s unpleasing to the Nose, cannot but nauseate the 
oly and Palate; inasmuch that the Nose may be call’d a Taster to the 
aste.’ 
1912, TT 
