96 



Drs. S. Martin and R. N. Wolfenden. [May 16, 



purulent ophthalmia with subconjunctival ecchjmosis; the cornea was 

 quite clear. The purulent discharge lasted till the death of the 

 animal, about eighty-three hours after the inoculation. The animal 

 was apparently ill for about four hours before death. At the post- 

 mortem there was severe subconjunctival haemorrhage, with oedema 

 round the eyeball. 



In another experiment, where a very small quantity of the globulin 

 in a 15 per cent. NaCl solution was placed on the conjunctiva, there 

 was inflammation with purulent discharge from the eye in 18^- hours. 

 The inflammation rapidly increased (although there were no general 

 symptoms of poisoning), and began to subside on the sixth day after 

 inoculation. In this case there was no subconjunctival haemorrhage, 

 the amount of globulin used being less than in the first experiment 

 quoted. 



From both these experiments the local action of the globulin is 

 evident : it produces intense inflammation, oedema, and local ecchy- 

 mosis, and may produce death if the dose is sufficiently large. 



General Action. — The local irritant effect is also seen when a 

 solution of the globulin is injected subcutaneously. The connective 

 tissue becomes oedematous over a large area, there is congestion, and 

 if the dose be a large one there are also punctiform ecchymoses. No 

 suppuration is found, probably because the animal does not live long 

 enough. 



As regards the general effect on the body produced by abrus-poison, 

 we have not much to add to the account given by Drs. Warden and 

 Waddell in their pamphlet previously quoted. Abrus-globulin pro- 

 duces the same effect as the substance called by these observers 

 " abrin," and as the watery infusion of the juice. 



If a small quantity of globulin, 0*0022 gram (0*01 gram per 

 kilo, of body weight), be injected under the skin of a rat weighing 

 218 grams, symptoms of poisoning begin to appear in about six hours. 

 The animal then seems a little languid, and in a condition impossible 

 to distinguish from sleepiness. It continues in this state, making no 

 voluntary movement, irresponsive to slight external stimuli, and with 

 half-shut eyes. It lies huddled up in its cage, the breathing becomes 

 more rapid, and bloody motions are passed shortly before death, 

 which occurs in about twenty-four hours after inoculation. If the 

 animal is with young it aborts. 



Post-mortem there are signs of cedema and ecchymoses at the seat 

 of injection, and punctiform ecchymoses also beneath the peritoneum 

 and sometimes in the lungs. The intestines are congested, some- 

 times greatly inflamed ; the adenoid patches in the mucous membrane 

 are swollen, and submucous ecchymoses are often seen. The blood 

 sometimes remains fluid for a long time, and is sometimes coagu- 

 lated. 



