550 DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON THE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN 



At the moment of death, the pupils measured /oths x ^yths of an inch ; 

 three minutes afterwards, their size had increased to /^ths x -^yths of an inch ; 

 and this increase gradually became greater until one hour and thirty minutes, 

 when they measured i^ths x i^ths of an inch. 



The first appearance of post mortem rigidity was observed at thirty-two 

 minutes after death, and it consisted of a very slight degree of stiffness re- 

 stricted to the posterior extremities. The rigidity next appeared in the anterior 

 extremities and the neck, and finally it became universal, but not until one hour 

 and fourteen minutes after death. (Temperature of laboratory, 56° F.) 



A considerable quantity of opalescent urine was removed from the bladder, 

 and when tested it was found that the opalescence was due to suspended 

 phosphates, and that the urine was perfectly free from albumen. 



In the next experiment, in place of extract of physostigma, the sulphate of 

 the active principle was administered. 



Experiment 43-a. — In a rabbit weighing three pounds, it was found that 

 the rate of the heart's impulse was 44, and that of the respirations 15, in ten 

 seconds, and that the pupils measured i^ths x ^§ths of an inch. 



A solution containing half a grain of sulphate of atropia in 15 minims of 

 distilled water was injected under the skin at the right flank. In one minute 

 afterwards, the rate of the heart's impulse was 47 in ten seconds ; in one minute 

 and thirty seconds, the respirations occurred 22 times in ten seconds ; in two 

 minutes, the pupils measured \% ths x i^ths of an inch ; in three minutes, the 

 rate of the heart's impulse was 53 in ten seconds ; in three minutes and thirty 

 seconds, the respirations occurred 21 times in ten seconds ; and in four minutes, 

 the rate of the heart's impulse was 55 in ten seconds, while the pupils measured 

 ^fths x if ths of an inch. 



Five minutes after the sulphate of atropia had been injected, a solution 

 containing six twenty-fifths of a grain of sulphate of physostigmia in 25 

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

 then the syringe was washed out with a few minims of distilled water, which 

 was injected under the skin at the right hip — the entire operation occupying 

 thirty seconds. The first symptom that followed was the occurrence of in- 

 frequent and slight twitches of small portions of the panniculus carnosus 

 muscle, in the neighbourhood of the regions where the two last injections were 

 made. These twitches were first observed one minute and twenty seconds after 

 the commencement of these injections of physostigmia, and they gradually ex- 

 tended over the surface of the animal, until in three minutes they had become 

 general. In four minutes, the rate of the heart's impulse was 49, and that of the 

 respirations 21, in ten seconds ; and the pupils now measured ^§ths x |fths of 

 an inch. At this time, also, the respiratory movements were often accompanied 

 with a hiccup-like start. In six minutes, the rate of the heart's impulse had 



