STROPHANTHUS SARMENTOSUS : ITS PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION. 



381 



Experiment LIV. — continued. 



Interval. 



Contractions in 10 seconds. 



Notes. 



Auricles. 



Ventricle. 



After Strophanthus. 

 28 minutes . 



31 „ 



34 „ . . 



35 „ . . 



37 „ . . 



40 „ . . 



41 „ . • 



42 „ . . 



43 „ . . 



50 „ . 



... 



... 



Two auricular contractions precede each ventricular con- 

 traction ; twelve auricular and six ventricular contractions 

 occurred in 30 seconds, ventricular systole occupies 2 

 seconds and the ventricle becomes very small and pale ; 

 ventricular diastole occupies 4 seconds (about), and the 

 ventricle does not dilate very much. 



Twelve auricular and six ventricular contractions occurred in 

 30 seconds. 



In 20 seconds, the auricles contracted six times, and each 

 auricular contraction distended the ventricle further, then 

 the ventricle gave a single powerful contraction. 



The frog struggled ; the base of the heart is quite pale and 

 contracted ; at each contraction of the auricles only a small 

 area at the apex of the ventricle becomes darker in colour, 

 and it at once pales in systole again. 



Three auricular and three imperfect ventricular contractions 

 occurred in 60 seconds ; the ventricle is almost completely 

 contracted. 



No movement of the heart in 60 seconds. 



One contraction of all chambers in 60 seconds. 

 Do. do. 



Eight contractions of auricles and ventricle occurred in 60 

 seconds ; these were irregular in time and very feeble ; 

 thereafter the heart was arrested with the ventricle very 

 small and pale ; the auricles were slightly dilated ; the 

 frog breathed regularly. 



The heart is motionless ; the auricles are slightly dilated and 

 the ventricle is pale and firmly contracted ; mechanical 

 stimulation of any chamber results in a feeble movement 

 of the auricles only ; on section, the ventricular muscle 

 appeared to give an alkaline reaction with litmus paper. 



Experiment LV. — - 0004 gram of extract placed within the pericardial sac of 

 a frog (Rana temporaria). 



Interval. 



Contractions in 10 seconds. 



Notes. 



Auricles. 



Ventricle. 



Before Strophanthus. 

 5 minutes . 



8 

 8 



• OO 00 



Contractions regular in time and powerful; movements large; 



ventricular systole occupies two-thirds of the cycle. 

 Do. do. 

 Inserted 0-0004 gram of extract dissolved in Ringer's 



solution inside the pericardial sac. 



TRANS. ROY. SOC. EDIN., VOL. XLVIL PART II. (NO. 15). 



57 



