THE ACTIONS OF PHYSOSTIGMA AND ATROPIA. 535 



physiological actions of iodine and bromine are said to neutralise each other 

 because the former produces sedation, and the latter excitation of certain 

 general functions." 1 '" 



Among these examples there are several worthy of further examination, 

 and it is not impossible that their existence may thereby be established. Mean- 

 while, the criticism of the Professor of Therapeutics at Paris, in reference to the 

 majority of recorded examples of antagonism, appears to be a just one, that " la 

 precision fait souvent clefaut dans l'analyse des faits, les inductions manquent 

 de rigueur, et la pratique attend de nouvelles lumieres de la part cle la physio- 

 logie experimentale et de la therapeutique rationnelle."t 



Between Physostigma and Strychnia. — This criticism is also applicable to 

 much that has been advanced regarding antagonism between physostigma and 

 certain other substances. The first instance that has been suggested of an 

 antagonism in which physostigma is concerned, is that between it and strychnia. 

 The spinal excitant action of the latter substance was naturally looked upon as 

 more or less contrary to the paralysing influence exerted by physostigma on the 

 spinal cord. In a paper published by me in 18624 an experiment is described 

 which lent some countenance to this surmise. Since that time experiments 

 have been made by Nunneley,§ Vee,|| and Eben Watson, IT which, on the 

 whole, support the opinion that the spasmodic effects of strychnia may be 

 diminished by the paralysing action of physostigma. They are, however, insuffi- 

 cient to decide whether the lethal action of the one substance can be prevented 

 by the physiological action of the other. 



Between Physostigma and Chloral. — In the remaining instance, the power of 

 chloral to counteract the lethal action of physostigma has been experimentally 

 tested by Professor Bennett. It is, however, impossible to decide how far the 

 opinion expressed by this observer, that chloral has a most marked influence in 

 counteracting the lethal action of physostigma, is justified by the results of his 

 experiments, as only a very brief account of them has as yet been published.*""' 



* Gubler. Bulletin General de Therapeutique, tome Ixvii. 1864, p. 9. 



t Gubler. Dictionnaire Encyclopedique des Sciences Medicales (Antidote), tome 5 me , 1866, 

 p. 322. 



% " On the Characters, Actions, and Therapeutic Uses of the Ordeal Bean of Old Calabar." 

 Edinburgh Medical Journal, vol. ix. 1863, p. 245 ; and reprint, p. 19. See also, "On the Physio- 

 logical Action of the Calabar Bean." Transactions of the Boyal Society of Edinburgh, vol. xxiv. 

 partiii. 1866-7, p. 740. 



§ "On the Calabar Bean : its Action, Preparations, and Use." Lancet, 1863; and pamphlet, pp. 

 12-15. 



|| Eecherches Chimiques et Physiologiques sur la Feve du Calabar (These). Par le Dr Ame'de'e 

 Vke. Paris, 1865, pp. 28-30. 



11 " On the Physiological Actions of the Ordeal Bean of Calabar, and on its Antagonism to 

 Tetanus and Strychnia Poisoning." Edinburgh Medical Journal, vol. xii. May 1867, p. 999 ; and 

 reprint, pp. 17-25. 



** " On Chloral in Phthisis, and its Antagonism to the poisonous effects of Calabar Bean." The 

 Practitioner, vol. iv. 1870, p. 262. 



