1878.] the Poisonous Principle of Ureckites Suberecta. 329 



noticed, but did not attempt to eaten, a mouse. Drank a little milk in 

 the morning, and fed well in the evening. Remained still all day. 

 Sixth day. — Weight 4 lbs. 5 ozs. Much better. 



Eighth clay. — Barely sufficient energy to catch a mouse which was 

 put in the cage. Might now be considered recovered. 



These four experiments show that amorphous urechitoxin has the 

 same physiological action as the crystalline urechitoxin, but perhaps is 

 not so active, weight for weight. 



Effect of Urcchitin on Gats, given by Mouth. 

 Experiment XXVIII. 



A dose of finely powdered urechitin, weighing gr., i.e. 6*5 mgms., 

 was given to a cat on a piece of meat ; the whole was swallowed, and 

 the animal ate a hearty meal directly afterwards. 



11.20 a.m. Poison administered. 



12.40 p.m. Vomited a little frothy liquid ; during the next hour it 

 twice vomited food, and once frothy liquid. 



2.15 p.m. Had twice since 1.40 p.m. vomited a little frothy liquid. 

 Now very indisposed to move, when it did was very sluggish and also 

 uncertain in its movements. Before the poison began to act, it had 

 been a more than usually active cat. Though so unwilling, or perhaps 

 unable readily, to move, it was too uneasy to remain long in one spot. 

 Breathing laboured and abdominal. 



3 p.m. Vomited frothy liquid very violently. Very weak. After 

 this time it remained very quiet, as if too weak to move, yet it 

 appeared decidedly easier. Next morning it was still very feeble. 



At 10 a.m. it vomited some frothy liquid, in which was a worm. It 

 had been vomiting during the night. It refused to eat all day, but 

 after this time recovered rapidly and completely. 



Urechitin is very insoluble in watery liquids ; and as the dose was 

 given in the solid form, and was immediately followed by a hearty 

 meal, which was entirely ejected within two and a half hours from the 

 exhibition of the poison, no doubt but little was absorbed into the 

 system. 



Experiment XXIX. 



To the perfectly recovered cat used in Experiment XXVIII, ad- 

 ministered a similar dose, i.e., gr. urechitin ; but this time the 

 poison was dissolved in a few drops of very strong alcohol, and the 

 solution diluted with weak spirit until the poison began to crystallize 

 out of the mixed solution, and very fine crystals were then poured into 

 the throat of the cat, and its mouth held shut until they seemed to be 

 swallowed. The bulk of the dose undoubtedly was swallowed, but 

 little escaping. 



