776 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
cold saturated solution of benzoylecgonin were then applied to the 
exposed cord. In a few minutes the reflexes became more sensitive, 
and within half an hour a slight touch brought on a tetanic spasm. 
Spontaneous spasm also occurred, the tetanus ultimately becoming 
continuous, and lasting for two or three days, when death from 
exhaustion took place. 
If a supersaturated solution were used, there were immediate symp- 
toms of great irritation followed by a few tetanic spasms. The cord 
became quite paralysed, and the animal lay flaccid and motionless. 
Investigation by Tiirck’s method showed no change in the reflex 
period during the first day. On the second day spasm was invari- 
ably present. 
Motor Nerves . — The motor nerves are practically unaffected. 
This was ascertained by tying one iliac artery, the sciatic nerves 
were then divided high up, and their excitability tested with the 
Du Bois Reymond coil. The benzoylecgonin was then administered, 
and the nerves tested from time to time. 
Immersion of the sciatic nerve in a weak solution made with 
normal saline does not appear to injure its conductility. 
Sensory Nerves . — These are also unaffected. Neither painting 
the skin with a saturated solution nor subcutaneous injection pro- 
duced any local anaesthetic effect. 
Striped Muscle . — The action on striped muscle is not nearly so 
violent as that of caffein is described to be. In all my experiments 
curarised frogs were used, so as to exclude the motor nerves. If \ 
grain or more dissolved in a little water be injected under the skin, 
the muscles in the immediate neighbourhood retain their contractil- 
ity very little impaired during the whole day, but next morning they 
are quite inexcitable. The muscles at a distance are unaffected unless 
the dose be very large. If the forearm be the seat of injection, gene- 
rally all the muscles there are found dead after about twenty-four 
hours ; but if a more muscular part, such as the thigh, be selected, 
all the muscles may retain their contractility although more or less 
impaired. In the case of caffein, this condition has been ascribed 
to rigor mortis being induced. 
Another method of investigation was also adopted. In a deeply 
curarised frog the coccygeal region was exposed by reflecting the 
skin. The muscles on one side of the coccyx were kept moist with 
