382 DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPID US. 



and slight irritations of any part of the skin caused reflex movements in both 

 pelvic extremities. In 2 hours 7 min., reflex movements could no longer be obtained, 

 although both pelvic extremities continued to be flaccid, and galvanic stimulation 

 of each sciatic nerve produced well-marked contractions in the limb supplied by it. 

 In 2 hours 32 min., the thoracic extremities were still rigid, and the pelvic extremities 

 flaccid, and the muscles of each pelvic extremity responded to galvanic stimulation of 

 the sciatic nerve of the limb. When, however, the muscles of the thoracic extremities 

 were exposed and directly stimulated by galvanism, they failed to contract, and it was 

 found that these muscles were pale and rigid, and acid in reaction. On the following day, 

 24 hours after the administration of Strophanthus, galvanic stimulation of either sciatic 

 nerve failed to produce any contraction. The muscles of both thighs were exposed, and 

 directly galvanised : those of the right (ligatured) thigh contracted actively, but those 

 of the left (non-ligatured) thigh remained motionless. The exposed muscles of the right 

 (ligatured) thigh were non-rigid, and they were alkaline in reaction; while those of the 

 left (non-ligatured) thigh, and, indeed, of all parts of this extremity, were hard and pale, 

 and acid in reaction. Rigor was present in all parts of the body, excepting the right 

 (ligatured) pelvic extremity. On the fourth day, the whole animal, including the right 

 (ligatured) pelvic extremity, was in rigor, and all the muscles were acid in reaction ; and 

 it was not until the seventh day that this rigor became markedly lessened, coincidently 

 with evidences of decomposition, and with disappearance of acidity of the muscles. 



Experiment LX. — In a frog, weighing 350 grains, a ligature was tied tightly round 

 the structures of the right thigh, excepting the trunk of the right sciatic nerve. 

 0*1 grain of extract of Strophanthus was then injected under the skin of the left 

 flank. In 50 min., the voluntary movements were feeble, fibrillary twitches were 

 occurring at the flanks and the left thigh, and the left pelvic extremity was usually 

 partially and flaccidly extended. In 1 hour 16 min., slight irritation applied anywhere 

 caused a series of movements in the body and four extremities, but these movements 

 were now more active in the right (ligatured) pelvic extremity than in the left. 

 In 2 hours 35 min., galvanic stimulation applied to the muzzle caused contractions of 

 the right (ligatured) pelvic extremity, but none elsewhere. In 2 hours 51 min., galvanic 

 stimulation of the sciatic nerve of the left (non-ligatured) pelvic extremity caused 

 movements of that extremity ; but it failed to do so in 3 hours 30 min., when, however, 

 active movements of the right (ligatured) pelvic extremity were still produced by 

 galvanic stimulation of the trunk of the right sciatic nerve above the point of ligature, 

 and even of the spinal cord itself. The muscles of the left (non-ligatured) thigh were 

 now exposed, but galvanic stimulation, even when strong, failed to produce any 

 contraction when applied directly to them. The muscles of the left pelvic extremity, 

 and of the thoracic extremities, were pale and hard, and cut sections of them were 

 acid in reaction. In 4 hours, the last noted conditions were still present. The thoracic 

 extremities were very rigid, and the left (non-ligatured) pelvic extremity was slightly 

 so ; while the right (ligatured) pelvic extremity was flaccid and its muscles were con- 



