STROPHANTHUS SARMENTOSUS : ITS PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION. 377 



respirations were 20 per 10 seconds, the flank respirations 3 or 4 per 10 seconds; the 

 conjunctival reflex was acute ; the pupils were dilated ; the frog was unable to flex a 

 hi ad-limb which had been passively extended ; it made feeble and unsuccessful efforts 

 to recover the prone position when laid on its back ; and the cardiac impacts could be 

 counted. Sixty-eight hours 25 minutes after the injection, the frog was decapitated 

 and the heart exposed. The heart was contracting regularly seven times in 60 seconds ; 

 the diastolic phase was long, and all the chambers were very large and dark during 

 diastole ; systole was rapid and complete, the ventricle becoming very small and pale, 

 and then rapidly dilating ; a portion near the apex was the last to contract in systole. 

 Five minutes after decapitation, three complete contractions of the heart occurred in 

 30 seconds, and then the heart paused in diastole for 40 seconds. After this pause, 

 five good and regular contractions occurred in 60 seconds. Fifteen minutes after 

 decapitation, seven contractions occurred in 60 seconds ; the ventricle became very pale 

 in systole (which occupied less than 2 seconds), and was large and dark in diastole 

 (which occupied 6 or 7 seconds). Forty-five minutes after decapitation, five con- 

 tractions occurred in 60 seconds, and the systolic and diastolic phases were as last 

 noted. One hour 5 minutes after decapitation, seven cardiac contractions occurred in 

 60 seconds and at irregular intervals. Systole was performed completely and rapidly. 

 Three hours 8 minutes after decapitation, six contractions occurred in 60 seconds ; the 

 first of these was succeeded by a pause in diastole for 40 seconds, the other five 

 occurred in the next 20 seconds ; the systolic phase was rapid and complete, but the 

 diastolic phase predominated. Three hours 45 minutes after decapitation, four con- 

 tractions occurred in 60 seconds and at irregular intervals. Four hours 30 minutes 

 after decapitation, four contractions occurred in 45 seconds, followed, by a pause in 

 diastole of 25 seconds, and systole was now less complete. Four hours 50 minutes after 

 decapitation, five contractions occurred in 30 seconds; dark "pouchings" usually 

 appeared at the apex and the base of the ventricle in systole and moved from one part 

 of the cavity to another ; and at times dark rings ran over its surface from base to 

 apex ; and during these vermicular movements of the ventricle the auricles were very 

 much dilated and the frog struggled feebly. Four hours 55 minutes after decapitation, 

 the heart was beating almost regularly ; the ventricle was uniformly dark in diastole 

 and uniformly pale in systole. Four hours 56 minutes after decapitation, the heart 

 stopped in diastole ; 30 seconds later a single powerful contraction of the ventricle 

 occurred and was followed by immediate relaxation ; and the frog struggled feebly. 

 Four hours 57 minutes after decapitation, another single powerful contraction of the 

 ventricle occurred, followed by several more at intervals of 15 to 20 seconds ; and each 

 contraction was preceded by a single auricular contraction which greatly distended 

 the ventricle. In 6 hours 25 minutes after decapitation, the heart was observed to be 

 in diastole for 2 minutes, then ten regular and complete contractions occurred at 

 intervals of 4 or 5 seconds, and were followed by a pause in diastole for 1 minute, 

 succeeded by further rhythmic contractions. Seven hours 45 minutes after decapitation, 



