560 DR THOMAS R. ERASER ON THE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN 



with the respirations ; the exaggerated flow of saliva ceased ; and the pupils 

 became enlarged to g^ths x g^ths of an inch. This improved state gradually 

 became more decided, until at thirty-seven minutes after the injection of 

 atropia, the rabbit seemed to have recovered from every abnormal symptom, 

 except that extremely well-marked fibrillary twitches and dilatation of the 

 pupils to the extent of ^$ths x -J-g-ths of an inch were present. At about one 

 hour and thirty minutes, unmistakable symptoms of general physostigma poison- 

 ing somewhat unexpectedly again manifested themselves. Faeces, normal 

 at this time in their characters, were passed ; the pupils contracted to ^f ths x 

 l^ths of an inch, and saliva appeared at the mouth. In one hour and forty 

 minutes, the respirations were constantly accompanied with mucous sounds ; 

 soft and, now and again, semi-liquid faeces were passed, and urine was voided ; 

 the surface of the eye-balls became unnaturally moist ; the pupils measured 

 only 5Tjths x -^-ths of an inch ; and the animal lay on the abdomen and chest, 

 apparently unable to go about. However, an improvement in the general 

 condition again occurred at two hours and twenty minutes ; and from this 

 time the symptoms became less and less severe, until a perfectly normal con- 

 dition was established. 



Experiment 49-b. — Nine days afterwards this rabbit, being in a state of 

 vigorous health, and having a weight of three pounds and five ounces, received, 

 by subcutaneous injection, one grain and three-tenths of extract of physostigma. 

 In thirty-four minutes thereafter it was extended on the side ; infrequent, 

 laboured, and noisy respiratory gasps were occurring ; soft and almost liquid 

 faeces were being passed, along with which there were occasionally some small 

 pieces of a clear jelly-like substance; the cardiac contractions were occurring 

 at a very reduced rate of frequency ; and the pupils were in extreme contrac- 

 tion. In forty-six minutes and ten seconds after the administration of physo- 

 stigma, the rabbit was dead. 



In two other experiments that will now be described, physostigma was 

 administered in the form of sulphate of the active principle, and between the 

 administration of the two substances a period even longer than that in the last 

 experiment intervened. 



Experiment 50-a. — In a rabbit, weighing three pounds and ten ounces, the 

 average rate of the cardiac contractions was found to be 38, and that of the re- 

 spiratory movements 22, in ten seconds ; while the pupils measured i^jths x 

 ligths of an inch. A solution, containing nine-fifteenths of a grain of sulphate 

 of physostigmia in 20 minims of distilled water, was injected under the skin at 

 the right flank, and, immediately afterwards, the syringe was washed with a 

 few drops of distilled water, and this water was injected under the skin at the 

 right hip. The following symptoms then occurred, the time being computed 

 from the moment when the first injection was commenced :— . 



