1878.] the Poisonous Principle of Urechites Suberecta. 311 



quarters moving together. This was over in about a minute, but was 

 succeeded by twitching of the limbs, continuing for about two minutes, 

 after which all motion ceased, and the mouse was dead three minutes 

 after the poison was placed in its throat. 



Experiment II. 



Gave a smaller dose of the emulsion than that employed in Experi- 

 ment I to two mice ; for some time no effect was visible. In from 

 fifteen to thirty minutes there appeared convulsive movements of the 

 abdomen, as if the animal would vomit ; it then jumped about for a 

 few seconds, fell over on its side deprived of all power of locomotion, 

 its muscles twitched for a minute or two, and death followed. 



Experiment III. 



A little of the crude poison, in a form like very thick treacle, was 

 put in the mouth of a mouse ; from its treacly condition the poison 

 could not be spat out by the animal. For half an hour no effect was 

 noticed ; then there appeared to be disinclination to move, which in- 

 creased until motion was plainly impossible, the mouse falling over on 

 its side and dying ninety minutes after the poison was put in its 

 mouth. The other symptoms noted were apparent attempts to vomit, 

 seeming difficulty in breathing, and shortly before death convulsive 

 gaspings for air. 



Experiment IV. 



A dose of the poison in the same state as that used in Experi- 

 ment III, but in quantity much less, was given to a mouse ; for an 

 hour or two the animal appeared to be unaffected ; it then became less 

 active. Next day it would hardly move even when touched, but it ate 

 well. It was not seen on the third and fourth days, but was well pro- 

 vided with food and water. On the morning of the fifth day it seemed 

 better than on the evening of the second day, but as the day passed 

 on it got worse, being very indisposed to move, and when it did 

 clinging to the ground as if afraid of falling over. When first seen 

 on the morning of the sixth day it could hardly move, and as the 

 morning passed on it completely lost all power of locomotion, and died 

 quietly just five full days after it had received the poison. Imme- 

 diately before death the penis became erected, and semen was emitted. 



The most marked symptom in these four experiments was loss of 

 power of locomotion, the paralysis coming on very gradually when the 

 dose was smallest ; when the poison quickly proved fatal, convulsions 

 preceded death. 



Effect on a Kitten, given by Mouth. 

 Experiment V. 



9.7 a.m. Attempted to give ^ grain of the crude poison in the form 



