378 



DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 



Both frogs having received Strophanthus, but one also curare in sufficient quantity 

 to paralyse the motor nerves, in the latter, A, no twitches were observed at any period of 

 the experiment, while in the former, B, they occurred at 18 min. after the injection of 

 Strophanthus, and continued for about 30 min. 



In the former, also, the nerves and muscles were nearly paralysed within 10 min. 

 after the twitches had ceased, and they were absolutely paralysed 47 min. afterwards, or 

 1 hour 47 min. after the administration of Strophanthus. 



In the experiment with previous administration of curare, A, the muscles were feebly 

 contractile at 1 hour 10 min. after the administration of Strophanthus, and they were 

 not entirely non-cou tractile even at 2 hours 18 min. ; while in B the muscles were 

 previously to this time not only non-contractile, but stiff and acid. The fibrillary 

 twitches, therefore, appear to hasten muscle paralysis and rigor. 



Experiment LVI, — In the second experiment, a frog, weighing 380 grains, was 

 pithed, a ligature was tied round the upper part of the right thigh, excluding the sciatic 

 nerve, and the right pelvic extremity, with the sciatic nerve-trunk attached to it, was 

 amputated at the knee. The amputated leg, from which the skin had been removed, was 

 put aside, well covered by the removed portion of skin. Immediately thereafter (2 p.m.), 

 0*0004 grain of curare, dissolved in 4 minims of water, was injected into the anterior 

 thoracic and abdominal lymph-sacs through the floor of the mouth. Half an hour subse- 

 quently, the left pelvic extremity was amputated above the knee-joint, with the sciatic 

 nerve-trunk (divided, as in the right leg, close to the pelvis) attached to the amputated 

 leg. There were thus obtained two nerve muscle preparations, in one of which, A, the 

 nerve had not been subjected to the influence of curare, and in the other, B, the nerve 

 had been subjected to the influence of curare. 



A. Curariscd (Left) Leg. 



2.56 



3.20 

 3.24 



3.35 



4.10 

 4.25 



5.0 

 5.10 



Placed nerve and muscle in solution of extract 

 of Strophanthus in normal saline (1 to 3750), to 

 ■which, guided by previous experiments, - 00061 

 grain of curare had been added to ensure a con- 

 tinuance of paralysis of the motor nerve-endings. 



No fibrillary twitches. 



Do. Galvanic stimulation of the nerve produced 

 no effect even with the secondary at 0. Galvanic 

 stimulation directlyappliedtothe muscle produced 

 no effect with the secondary at 110 mm., but pro- 

 duced a faint twitch with the secondary at 100 mm. 

 Do. do. 



Do. Galvanic stimulation of the muscle did not 

 cause contraction until the secondary was at 90 mm. 

 Do. do. 



Do. do. 



Do. Do., but now the contraction on stimulation 

 of the muscle is a mere feeble twitch. 



On the following day, the strongest galvanic stimulation of 

 the nerve or muscle failed to produce any contraction. 



2.55 



3.18 



3.25 



3.40 

 3.52 

 4.0 



4.25 



B. Non-cur arised (Right) Leg, 



Placed nerve and muscle in solution of extract of 

 Strophanthus in normal saliue (1 to 3750). 



Rarely feeble spontaneous fibrillary twitches. 



Unceasing fibrillary twitches, which 

 strong. 



Do. 

 Strong, unceasing fibrillary twitches. 



Do. 



often are 



Fibrillary twitches continue strong, but not so 

 incessantly. Galvanic stimulation of the muscle 

 produced contraction with the secondary at 90 

 mm., but none with the secondary at 100 mm. 

 4.32 Do. do. 



4.45 Infrequent fibrillary twitches. 

 4.55 Do. 



5.15 Thespontaneousfibrillarytwitcheshave ceased. Gal- 

 vanic stimulation of themuscledid not produce any 

 contraction until the secondary was at 70 min., 

 and this stimulus caused merely a feeble twitch. 

 On the following day, the strongest galvanic stimulation of 

 the nerve or muscle failed to produce any contraction. 



