PHYSOSTIGMINE 415 



the act, and loud peristaltic Boises are heard, followed by 

 the expulsion of faeces, mucus and flatus, with colicky pains 

 and tenesmus. Eeflex action is diminished or abolished, 

 but sensation is preserved until late in the toxic period. 

 The muscles are completely relaxed and powerless, notwith- 

 standing the tremors which afflict them. The breathing 

 becomes weak and irregular, and death occurs from res- 

 piratory failure. 



In experiments of Winslow and Muir conducted inde- 

 pendently and at different times the following cases may be 

 of interest : 



A healthy gelding, weighing 1,050 lbs., was strapped upon the dis- 

 secting table and given three grains of eserine sulphate intra jugularly-. 

 Within a few minutes slight muscular tremors appeared in the neok; 

 the pulse rose to 120, the respiration was 24, and the temperature nor- 

 mal. There was slight sweating. The pulse soon fell to 60, and was 

 strong and hard, while the respiration became rapid and labored. No 

 other symptoms developing within twenty-five minutes after the first 

 dose, three grains of the alkaloid were administered in the same man- 

 ner as before. The pulse became more frequent (78), the respiration 

 (48) was difficult, and the miuscular tremors increased in violence till 

 they resembled convulsions. Sweating was profuse, while saliva 

 dropped freely from the mouth. The respiration and pulse were now 

 reduced in frequency and became weaker. The pupils were unaffected, 

 but the eyes were staring. Half an hour after the second dose in- 

 creased peristaltic action was evidenced by loud noises and the expul- 

 sion of gas and dung. Recovery began in two hours from the exhibi- 

 tion of the second dose. It is possible that the severe muscular tremors 

 were caused by contamination of the eserine with calabarine, as the 

 former was not a fresh preparation. An aged express horse, suffering 

 for a week from impaction of the colon, was given twelve minims of a 

 commercial extract of calabar bean. He fell down almost immediately, 

 perspired freely, exhibited muscular tremors, and expired within a few 

 minutes. The writer is unable to state the minimum fatal dose for 

 horses, but eserine should be used with caution in weak subjects. — 

 Winslow. 



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