LUPIISTES AS POISONOUS PLANTS. 11 



cyaneus) was injected into the femoral vein, in progressively increas- 

 ing doses. The dose is calculated as grams of drug (not of alkaloid) 

 per kilogram of body weight. Arranged by doses, the effects were 

 briefly as follows : 



SMALL DOSES OF 0.1 TO 0.4 GRAM PER KG. 



Respiration : First quicker and deeper; then somewliat slowed; irregular, and shallow. 



Carotid blood pressiLre: Rise, fall, rise, normal. 



Heart: Rate somewhat quickened; strength somewhat diminished. 



TOXIC DOSES OF 0.5 TO 0.75 GRAM PER KG. 



Respiration: First quickened and deeper; then somewhat slowed, irregular, and 

 shallow; may stop. 



Carotid blood pressure: Rise, then great fall; effect of sciatic stimulation lessened. 



Heart: Rate first slowed, then quickened; when vagi were cut, slowed; strength, 

 weakened. 



VERY LARGE DOSES OP 0.9 TO 6.25 GRAMS PER KG. 



Respu-ation: For a few moments deeper; then very shallow and stops. 

 Carotid blood pressure: First slight rise, then great fall. 

 Heart: Rate first slowed, then quickened, then stopped; strength weakened. 

 Convulsions may occur from 1 gram up. 



DISCUSSION OF EFFECTS. 



Respiration. — The respiration shows a short stimulation (increase 

 of rate and depth), followed by depression (slowed, irregular, shal- 

 low) ; with the larger doses it stops before the heart. The action is 

 probably on the centers, for it occurs after section of the vagi, and 

 when stoppage has occurred it can not be revived by asphyxia, slap- 

 ping, or stimulation of the sciatic, or injection of saline. No recovery 

 occurs from even a just fatal dose after an hour of artificial respiration. 

 The respiratory center is the first vital center to give out completely. 



Blood pressure. — This shows a short, moderate rise, followed by a 

 more lasting fall, which is quite marked with the larger doses, even 

 those which are not fatal. Although the changes often coincide with 

 respiratory changes, the two are not interdependent, for they may 

 occur independently, and blood pressure changes occur even during 

 artificial respiration and are not influenced by the latter. Whether the 

 changes were central or peripheral was not investigated directly ; but, 

 from the fact that when vasomotor paralysis exists stimulation of the 

 sciatic is sometimes effective and sometimes ineffective when asphyxia 

 is effective, it is rendered very probable that the action is central. 

 The vasomotor paralysis may pre(;ede, coincide, or follow that of 

 respiration. It may be partial or so nearly complete that the pressure 

 sinks to some 20 millimeters with a good heart action. 



TJie heart rate. — With toxic doses there is first slowing, then quick- 

 ening; witli minimal and maximal doses, there is usually quickcnmg 

 only. Tlio slowing and secondary quickening occur equally well 

 when the vagi an; dividcid; they are tluiHifore at l<>ast partly periph- 

 eral. They are not always accompanied by changes in the strength 



