THE ACTIONS OF PHYSOSTIGMA AND ATEOPIA. 559 



In the next experiment, an interval of ten minutes and thirty seconds was 

 allowed to intervene between the administration of the two substances. 



Experiment 48-a — A young rabbit, weighing two pounds and fourteen 

 ounces, received, by subcutaneous injection, one grain and a half of extract of 

 physostigma, suspended in 15 minims of distilled water. Symptoms of phy- 

 sostigma action appeared in one minute and thirty seconds ; but they did not 

 assume a serious aspect until six minutes after the administration, when the 

 rabbit had great difficulty in maintaining a sitting posture. In nine minutes, it 

 fell, and rested on the abdomen, chest, and lower jaw. In ten minutes, faeces 

 were passed, and saliva escaped from the mouth ; while the animal lay flaccidly, 

 quite unable to move about, and, every now and then, was affected with tremors. 



At ten minutes and thirty seconds, half a grain of sulphate of atropia, dis- 

 solved in 15 minims of distilled water, was injected under the skin at the left 

 flank. No obvious result occurred until four minutes and thirty seconds, 

 when the state of flaccidity somewhat lessened, the back becoming normally 

 curved. A few seconds afterwards, the head was again raised, the flow of 

 saliva was considerably diminished, and the pupils were slightly dilated. In 

 eight minutes the rabbit succeeded in rising, and it then sat in a natural pos- 

 ture. At this time, the exaggerated secretion of saliva had become completely 

 checked, and the pupils widely dilated. 



Experiment 48-b — Twelve days afterwards, one grain and a fifth of extract 

 of physostigma was suspended in 15 minims of distilled water, and injected 

 under the skin of this rabbit. Death occurred in thirty minutes. 



In the following experiment, likewise, extract of physostigma was adminis- 

 tered ten minutes and thirty seconds before atropia. 



Experiment 49-a. — Having suspended one grain and a half of extract of 

 physostigma in 20 minims of distilled water, I injected it under the skin at 

 the right flank of a strong white rabbit, whose weight was three pounds and 

 three ounces. Ten minutes thereafter the rabbit was suffering from an 

 advanced stage of physostigma poisoning. It was lying, unable to make any 

 movements, except irregular struggles ; saliva was freely escaping from the 

 mouth ; faeces were being passed ; the entire surface of the animal was affected 

 with fibrillary twitches ; and the pupils were contracted to -fyihs x -fiyths of an 

 inch, their size before the injection having been ^ths x ^ths of an inch. 



At ten minutes and thirty seconds, I injected half a grain of sulphate of 

 atropia, dissolved in 15 minims of distilled water, under the skin at the left 

 flank. In three minutes after the administration of atropia, the pupils measured 

 s; 5 gths x 5 2 oths of an inch, and loud mucous sounds accompanied the respirations. 

 In six minutes, however, a decided improvement occurred, as the rabbit got 

 up and went about, though with considerable difficulty, and in a hurried and 

 excited manner. It was only at rare periods that mucous sounds were heard 



