THE ACTIONS OF PHYSOSTIGMA AND ATROPIA. 579 



The following facts were stated among the conditions and results of these ex- 

 periments : — 



Experiment 55- a. — A rabbit, weighing 4 lbs., received 2 grains of extract of 

 physostigma; and, five minutes afterwards, 003 grain of 

 sulphate of atropia by injection into a facial vein. Re- 

 covery took place. 

 55-b. — Seven days afterwards, the same rabbit, now weighing 4 lbs. 



3 oz., received 17 grain of extract of physostigma. Death 

 occurred in twenty-three minutes. 



Experiment 56-a. — A rabbit, weighing 3 lbs. 2 oz., received 1*6 grain of ex- 

 tract of physostigma, and, five minutes afterwards, 02 

 grain of sulphate of atropia by injection into a facial vein. 

 Recovery took place. 

 56-b.— Eight days afterwards, the same rabbit, now weighing 3 lbs. 



4 oz., received 13 grain of extract of physostigma. Death 

 occurred in nineteen minutes. 



5. An experiment was described, which had been undertaken to determine 

 whether a preparation of physostigma, different from that used in any of the other 

 experiments of this research, has its lethal action counteracted by sulphate of 

 atropia. The following facts were stated among the conditions and results of 

 this experiment : — 



Experiment 57-a. — A rabbit, weighing 3 lbs. 8 oz., received 2 grains of ex- 

 tract of physostigma, prepared by Dr Cook; and, one 

 minute and thirty seconds afterwards, 5 grain of sul- 

 phate of atropia. Recovery took place. 

 57-b. — Nine days afterwards, the same rabbit, now weighing 3 lbs. 

 8^oz., received 1 grain of extract of physostigma, prepared 

 by Dr Cook. Death occurred in thirteen minutes and 

 thirty seconds. 



These various experiments prove so clearly that atropia is able to counter- 

 act the lethal action of physostigma, as to be of themselves sufficient for the 

 purposes of this section. Their evidence may, however, be largely added to 

 from the very numerous experiments that were necessarily performed in the 

 second portion of this research. 



