OF THE CALABAR BEAN. 771 



administered, these contractions were seventy-two ; in ten minutes, they were seventy ; in fifteen 

 minutes, they were sixty-two ; and in twenty minutes, they were forty-four. At this time, the 

 frog was flaccid, though still possessing the power of feeble voluntary movement ; and its respi- 

 ration had ceased. One minute thereafter, or twenty-one after the poison had been given, the 

 most careful examination failed to detect any pulsation of the lymphatic hearts, their final 

 stoppage having suddenly occurred. 



In many other experiments, these symptoms merely repeated themselves. 



Action on the Peristaltic Movements of the Abdominal Viscera. 



A close analogy exists between the action on the minute blood-vessels and that 

 on the peristaltic movements of the intestines. In mammalians, physostigma 

 seems, in the first place, to increase the vermicular contractions of all the abdo- 

 minal viscera, and then to diminish them. For some time, the intestines move 

 with increased vigour ; they then contract, so as very considerably to diminish 

 their calibre ; and, finally, they assume a condition of dilatation with lessened 

 movement. Peristalsis has been invariably observed to continue after death ; but 

 if a large dose has been exhibited, it may be very slight and of short duration. 

 Stimulation of the vagi nerves sometimes increases vermicular movements after 

 death, and it then does so very conspicuously in the stomach. I have never 

 succeeded in convincing myself of the activity of the splanchnic nerves in post 

 mortem examinations ; but, as the intestinal movements are then usually slug- 

 gish, it is a matter of extreme difficulty to judge of the action of their inhibitory 

 nerves. During the progress of the symptoms in rabbits, I have also observed 

 very energetic peristalsis in the cornua and body of the uterus, and even in the 

 ureters. From the former of these effects I should be inclined to recommend 

 physostigma as an oxytocic. As with those of the heart, the special ganglia of 

 the intestines appear to have their functions retained, with diminished activity, 

 for a considerable period after death ; and, as with the cardiac muscle, stimulation 

 produces non-peristaltic movements of those abdominal viscera that possess a 

 muscular structure, long after the nerves that govern their rhythmical contractions 

 have been paralysed. 



Action on the Pupil. 



In many experiments, the condition of the pupil was carefully observed, and 

 its diameter was measured at intervals by means of a graduated glass scale, each 

 division of which represented one-fiftieth of an inch. 



The changes that usually occur in mammals may be briefly described as con- 

 sisting of a short period of slight dilatation and a succeeding one of contraction ; 

 and either the latter gradually increases until death, or the pupil first oscillates 

 once or twice between dilatation and contraction. The latter condition is present 

 at death, and after this the pupil again dilates. 



These iridal movements are best seen in rabbits ; they are sluggish in dogs, 

 more so in certain birds, and least evident in frogs. 



The more important of the results may be conveniently arranged in the form 

 of a table. 



vol. xxiv. part hi. 9 z 



