THE ACTIONS OF PHYSOSTIGMA AND ATROPIA. 545 



were again passed. In one hour and thirty minutes, the rabbit was still in the 

 normal sitting posture it had for some time assumed, and when it was obliged to 

 move about no obvious difficulty could be detected. The fibrillary twitches had 

 decreased considerably; the rate of the cardiac impulse was 40 in ten seconds ; 

 and the pupils measured ^§ths x ^§ths of an inch. 



On the following day, twenty-three hours after the commencement of the 

 experiment, the rabbit appeared to be perfectly well, for it went about actively 

 and fed well. The rate of the cardiac impulse was 52, and that of the respira- 

 tions 12 in ten seconds, and the pupils measured ^§ths x ^§ths of an inch. 

 From this time, a gradual diminution went on in the rapidity of the heart's action, 

 and in the size of the pupil ; until, on the fifth day, the former had assumed 

 the normal rate of 41 in ten seconds, and the latter measured exactly the same 

 as before the experiment was commenced, namely, ^ths x i^yths of an inch. 



On the eleventh day this rabbit was subjected to the influence of a 

 minimum lethal dose of extract of physostigma, and the result is described in the 

 next experiment. It is of importance to note, that during all this time food 

 had been supplied to the rabbit ad libitum, as this is of importance in the 

 maintenance of a state of absolute health, and that the same was also done in 

 all the similar experiments of this research. 



Experiment 41-b. — This rabbit now weighed three pounds, and it was ascer- 

 tained that in ten seconds the cardiac impulse occurred 41 times, and the respira- 

 tory movements 17 times, and that the pupils measured ^ths x ^% ths of an inch. 



One grain and a fifth of extract of physostigma, suspended in 25 minims of 

 distilled water, was injected under the skin at the right flank, and the syringe 

 washings under that at the right hip. The first effect observed was the occur- 

 rence of infrequent and slight twitchings of the panniculus carnosus muscle 

 in the neighbourhood of the regions where the injections had been made, and 

 this effect commenced in about one minute and thirty seconds after the first of 

 the two injections. Beyond this, there was nO obvious symptom until six 

 minutes, when some slightly restless general movements were made, and at the 

 same time movements of the mouth and lips occurred, as if an accumulation of 

 saliva were being removed. Soon afterwards, there was evident difficulty in 

 going about ; gradually slight stiffness showed itself in the anterior, and then in 

 the posterior extremities, which by-and-by became extended, and thereafter the 

 rabbit stumbled about, or stood shaking with the body elevated on the extended 

 limbs. In eight minutes, the above condition was present, and besides, the 

 fibrillary twitchings had become more general and frequent, and the pupils 

 slightly larger, having increased from ftjths x -|-g-ths tooths x i-g -ths of an inch. 

 In ten minutes, the extended state of the limbs disappeared, and was succeeded 

 by partial paralysis, so that the rabbit now sank down on the abdomen and chest. 

 In thirteen minutes, great general weakness, accompanied with constant 



VOL. XXVI PART III. 7 C 



