556 DR THOMAS E. FRASER ON THE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN 



of the respirations 27, per ten seconds, and that the pupils measured ^-gths x 

 it#ths of an inch, I injected two grains and a half of extract of physostigma, 

 suspended in 30 minims of distilled water, under the skin of the right flank, and 

 immediately afterwards the washings of the syringe under the skin at the 

 right hip. Two minutes thereafter, the respirations were at the rate of 28 per 

 ten seconds, and infrequent fibrillary twitches occurred at the right side. The 

 animal became slightly restless and appeared uncomfortable. In four minutes 

 the cardiac impulse was at the rate of 30 in ten seconds, but the pupils were 

 unchanged in size. 



Five minutes after the commencement of the physostigma injection, half 

 a grain of sulphate of atropia, dissolved in 15 minims of distilled water, 

 was injected under the skin at the left flank, and the washings of the 

 syringe under the skin at the left hip. In one minute after the injection of 

 atropia, the pupils had increased to the size of ^fths x ^$ths of an inch, and 

 movements of the lips and mouth, symptomatic of the action of physostigma, 

 were being made. In two minutes, the rate of the cardiac action had increased 

 to 45 in ten seconds, and the fibrillary muscular twitches had become frequent 

 and general over the whole surface of the rabbit ; and in four minutes, the size 

 of the pupils had still further increased to ^ths x ^ths of an inch, while the 

 movements of the lips referred to still continued. In eight minutes, the rabbit 

 was sitting normally, though with some slight shaking, the heart's rate was 51 in 

 ten seconds, and the fibrillary muscular twitches had become greatly ex- 

 aggerated. It was not until fifteen minutes after the administration of atropia, 

 and therefore twenty minutes after that of physostigma, that distinct symptoms 

 of paralysis manifested themselves, and they consisted of merely a slight yielding 

 of the forelimbs during the movements, and a little drooping of the head. At 

 this time the respirations were at the rate of 22 per ten seconds, and the heart's 

 action was very frequent, though it was impossible to ascertain its rate with 

 accuracy, on account of the incessant recurrence of the fibrillary muscular 

 twitches. These various symptoms continued unchanged until twenty-five 

 minutes after the administration of atropia, when the paralytic symptoms became 

 more marked, for whenever the animal attempted to go about it stumbled, 

 and occasionally even fell on the abdomen. It was seen that the pupils had 

 now diminished in size to i^ths x i^ths of an inch. In forty-five minutes 

 a large quantity of urine was voided; in fifty minutes, the pupils measured 

 ^-§ths x ^§ths of an inch, and normal respiratory movements occurred at the 

 rate of 26 in ten seconds ; and in one hour several large and somewhat soft 

 fsecal pellets were passed. There was not, as yet, any decided change in the 

 general state of the animal ; stumbling occurred when movements were made, 

 and although a normal sitting posture could be assumed, there was distinct 

 drooping of the head while this posture was being maintained. Now, however, 



