CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION. 171 



It is much more soluble in water than the iodides of methyl-strychnium 

 and methyl-brucium, and, on this account, we commenced its administration 

 in relatively small quantities. We found that doses of one, five, and six grains, 

 nearly completely dissolved in very dilute spirit, and administered to rabbits by 

 subcutaneous injection, produced absolutely no effect. When, however, the dose 

 was increased to ten grains, partial and then complete paralysis was caused, 

 and death quickly occurred ; while serious symptoms were caused by eight 

 grains, but they did not terminate fatally. We shall give some details of these 

 two experiments. 



Experiment LXII. — We dissolved eight grains of iodide of methyl-thebaium 

 in very dilute alcohol, and injected the solution, with Wood's syringe, into the 

 subcutaneous cellular tissue of a rabbit, weighing two pounds and twelve ounces. 

 Symptoms of uneasiness occurred in thirty minutes, and were soon followed by 

 quivering movements of the head and ears, and, to a slight extent, of the rest of 

 the body. It was soon apparent that the neck muscles were scarcely able to 

 support the head, for it frequently fell on the table, but the rabbit did not permit 

 it to remain there until forty-five minutes after the administration. At this 

 time, the respirations were at the rate of seventy-eight per minute, and, although 

 the head was resting on the table, the body of the animal was supported, in a 

 comparatively normal posture, on the limbs. There were occasional tremulous 

 movements of the body, but no exaggeration of the reflex function could be dis- 

 covered. The rabbit remained in this state for about thirty minutes ; but soon 

 after this, the tremulous movements disappeared, the head was raised and 

 supported normally, and a perfectly natural posture was assumed. Every 

 symptom had disappeared within two hours after the administration. 



Experiment LXIIL — Ten grains of iodide of methyl-thebaium, reduced to a 

 very fine powder, was partially dissolved and partially suspended in very 

 dilute alcohol, and injected under the skin of a rabbit, weighing two pounds 

 and eleven ounces. There was no obvious effect until ten minutes, when it was 

 observed that the animal moved with difficulty. Tremulous movements then 

 occurred, the limbs occasionally yielded, and the head frequently fell. In 

 twelve minutes, the rabbit lay on the abdomen and chest, with the lower jaw 

 resting on the table ; and the tremulous movements only occurred at intervals. 

 It could now be lifted without any struggles. In nineteen minutes, the condition 

 was one of complete flaccidity, the only movements were an occasional gasping 

 respiration, but common sensibility was still retained. It continued thus, on the 

 very verge of death, for about four minutes, when a few quivering contractions 

 occurred in the muscles of the face and neck, and the respirations altogether 

 ceased. During the course of the symptoms, there was never the slightest 

 trace of any exaggeration in the reflex activity, nor of spasmodic or convulsive 

 movements. 



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