353 DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 



death, these spontaneous movements had altogether ceased, although they could be excited 

 by touching the heart 18 min. after death. At 7 min. after death, intestinal peristalsis 

 was active. At 23 min., strong galvanic stimulation of the right sciatic nerve produced 

 no effect ; but the gluteal muscles contracted feebly when directly stimulated with 

 interrupted galvanic currents of moderate strength. At 35 min. after death, the right 

 gluteal muscles no longer contracted, even with the most powerful galvanic stimuli ; but 

 the freshly-exposed left gluteal muscles pitted slightly between the electrodes with the 

 secondary coil at 50 mm. At this time, sections were made into the gluteal muscles and 

 test-papers inserted, and blue litmus-paper was distinctly reddened. After tying the 

 cardiac vessels the heart was removed, and its ventricles separately opened ; the right 

 contained much blood, the left only a small quantity. The kidneys, spleen, liver, and 

 lungs were removed for microscopic examination. At 40 min. after death, general, though 

 not strong, rigor was present. 



The microscopic examination of the removed viscera failed to show any congestion or 

 other morbid change. 



Experiment XXXVI. — In a rabbit, weighing 4 lbs. 12 oz., the respirations were 30, 

 and the cardiac impacts 35, per 10 sec, and the right pupil measured £§ x £§ths of an 

 inch, immediately before the administration of strophanthin. 0*05 grain of strophanthin, 

 dissolved in 10 minims of distilled water, was injected under the skin at the left flank. In 

 6 min., the rabbit was restless, and constant minute fibrillary twitches were occurring 

 at both flanks. In 7 min., the respirations were 25, and the cardiac impacts 20, per 10 

 sec. In 10 min., the respirations were 16, and the cardiac impacts 12, per 10 sec, and 

 the latter had become irregular. In 11 min., the thoracic extremities were somewhat 

 extended ; the respirations, and especially the inspirations, were laboured ;' and the right 

 pupil measured £§ x £§ths of an inch. In 15 min., the respirations, retaining the 

 characters last noted, were 6, and the cardiac impacts, which were weak, were 11, per 

 10 sec. The rabbit was sitting quietly, with the body rather extended. In 17 min., 

 the respirations were 7, and the cardiac impacts 11, per 10 sec, but the latter were so 

 weak that the rate could not accurately be determined. Incessant fibrillary twitches 

 were occurring all over the body, and when any movement was attempted rapid tremors 

 occurred in the head and shoulders. In 19 min., the head drooped and often rested on 

 the table, the fore-limbs began to yield, and when efforts were made to gain a normal 

 posture, tremors of the head, shoulders, and thoracic extremities were started. In 21 

 min., the respirations were 6, and the cardiac impacts 7, per 10 sec. The rabbit was 

 quiet, with the exception of fibrillary twitches, and lay extended flaccid on the abdomen 

 and thorax, with the side of the head resting on the table. In 24 min., the respirations 

 were very infrequent, shallow, and at irregular intervals, and intestinal peristalsis was 

 very marked through the abdominal walls. In 25 miu., spasms occurred in the legs, the 

 rabbit lay on the side, and shivering-like tremors passed over the body. The respirations 

 were 4 per 10 sec, but no cardiac impact could be felt, and the pupils measured 1$ x ijfths 

 of an inch. In 27 min., a few gasping-like shallow respirations occurred, and then 



