28 INDIAN SNAKE POISONS, 



means than paralysis, may yet cause in nerves a com- 

 plete deadness to stimuli. 



Experiment XI. 



The right thigh of a frog {Rana tigrina) was tightl»y 

 ligatured, so as to completely prevent circulation through 

 the limb, the nerve being included. One cubic centi- 

 metre of a solution of strychnia, containing two 

 centigrammes of strychnia, was injected into its dorsai 

 sac. 



18.53 P.M. Injection. 

 12.56 P.M. Tetanus. 

 1.10 P.M. Keflex action ceased. 

 1.23 P.M. Muscles of right leg infinitely sensitive. 

 1.25 P.M. Muscles of left (poisoned) leg contract 

 •with 0.75 volt. 



1.39 P.M. Eight sciatic nerve infinitely sensitive, 

 causes muscular contraction with less than O'OOOl volt. 

 1.45 P.M. Left sciatic nerve causes contraction with 

 15 volts. 



Now, strychnia certainly does not kill by paralysis, 

 and yet the difference between the poisoned and the 

 non-poisoned sides, in regard to their nerves, was more 

 marked than in cobra-poisoning. In another frog this 

 difference was very pronounced before the strychnia had 

 ceased to produce tetanus, so that it occurs long t>efore 

 exhaustion has taken place. The complete cessation of 

 the vital functions through tetanus is the real cause 



