THE ACTIONS OF PHYSOSTIGMA AND ATROPIA. 



563 



been ascertained that the weight of the animal was now three pounds and ten 

 ounces and a half, that the pupils measured ^-gths x ^ths of an inch, and 

 that the cardiac contractions were at the rate of 38, and the respirations at 

 that of 15, in ten seconds. 



The phenomena usually produced by such a dose quickly made their appear- 

 ance ; among which may be noted a reduction in the rate of the heart's action 

 to 29 in ten seconds, five minutes after the commencement of the administration. 

 Stumbling and excited movements, accompanied with slight increase in the size 

 of the pupils, were, by-and-by, succeeded by partial paralysis, accompanied 

 with frequently recurring tremors, slight contraction of the pupils, noisy infre- 

 quent respirations, a flow of saliva from the mouth, and the passage of fseces. 

 In thirteen minutes, the rabbit fell over on the side, the respirations were gasp- 

 ing and obstructed by mucus, the heart's contractions were at the greatly reduced 

 rate of 14 in ten seconds, and the pupils measured only -^jjihs x 3%-ths °f an inch. 

 Nearly incessantly the limbs were moving in a to-and-fro direction, and occa- 

 sionally they were affected by more vigorous spasmodic movements. In fifteen 

 minutes and thirty seconds, it was impossible to discover any cardiac impulse, 

 the respirations consisted of rarely occurring gasping movements, the pupils 

 had contracted to ^ths x /^ths of an inch, and the sensibility of the eyeballs 

 had entirely disappeared. Only a few more gasps occurred, and in sixteen 

 minutes after the commencement of the experiment the rabbit was dead. 



After death, the first appearance of rigidity was detected in twenty-five 

 minutes, but decided general rigor did not occur until the end of fifty-five 

 minutes (temperature of laboratory 56° F.). At this latter period the pupils 

 measured ^jths x J§ths of an inch. 



In the next experiment, also, it is conspicuously shown that atropia is able 

 to prevent the lethal action of physostigma even when its administration is 

 deferred until death appears to be on the point of occurring. 



Experiment 51-a. — In a rabbit, weighing three pounds and eight ounces, it 

 was ascertained that the rate, per ten seconds, of the heart's contractions was 40, 

 and that of the respirations 20, and that the pupils measured i^ths x -}%ihs of an 

 inch. The rabbit then received, by subcutaneous injection, seventeen-hundredths 

 of a grain of sulphate of physostigmia. The following effects were noted : — 





Cardiac 



Respirations, 



Size of Pupils, in 







Contractions, 



per 



fractions of an 



General Symptoms, &c. 





per 10 seconds. 



10 seconds. 



inch. 





In 1 min. 30 sec. 















Slight fibrillary twitches at right side. 



3 „ 



— 



16 



— 



Twitches more frequent. 



4 „ 



32 



— 



Hths x |f tns 



A little restlessness. 



6 „ 



29 



16 



— 



Movements of lips and mouth. 



8 „ 





15 



Btiisx J*tlis 



Limbs slightly extended. Shaking a 

 little. 



