326 



Scientific Proceedings (123). 



was injected into the white matter. The symptoms were with 

 few exceptions the same as those following toxic doses of citrate 

 when given subcutaneously or by mouth. This led them to con- 

 clude that they were mainly of cerebellar origin. 



We made a study of citrate in a series of experiments on cats 

 in which sodium citrate was given after removal of the cerebrum. 

 The subcutaneous injection of toxic doses failed to cause the 

 symptoms usually produced by citrate. Tonic and clonic con- 

 vulsions, muscular twitching and other symptoms produced by 

 the same doses of citrate in our controls were absent in all of our 

 decerebrated animals. 



Tests made on frogs have shown, however, that convulsions 

 and muscular effects may be produced in these animals in the 

 absence of the cerebrum and of the rest of the brain. But when 

 the spinal cord was destroyed no convulsions were observed. 

 Toxic doses of citrate given after division of one sciatic failed to 

 produce spasms of the corresponding leg, and the symptoms pro- 

 duced by citrate disappeared after section of the sciatic. 



153 (1900) 



Alkaloid actions as test for synapse-function in insects. 



By W. J. CROZIER. 



[From the Zoological Laboratory, Rutgers College, New Bruns- 

 wick, N. J.] 



Injection of strychnine solution, even at saturated concentra- 

 tion (0.5 c.c), in a series of sphingid caterpillars (genera Samia, 

 Automeris, Ceratomia) , fails to induce "reversal of inhibition"; 

 and save in the case of those species normally the most excitable 

 it fails to induce any opisthotonic symptoms. Opisthotonic cur- 

 vature (spasmodic) can be induced, however, by tetraethylam- 

 monium chloride. General excitation is produced by a variety of 

 neurophil substances (but not by creatin). Only with atropine is 

 one able to bring about reversal of inhibition in the use of antago- 

 nistic muscle groups; it is in this case very clearly shown in the 

 behavior of the prolegs, which no longer react to embrace an ob- 



