354 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
Our results agree with theirs as regards the fact that methyl- 
morphium retains the narcotic action of morphine, hut we find that 
it also retains the tetanising action to a very marked degree. As 
Crum Brown and Fraser point out, the action on motor nerves is a 
markedly paralysing one, but, as we shall show, this obscured the 
tetanus and led them to incomplete conclusions. The four frogs 
on which they experimented received too large doses, and were not 
observed for a sufficient length of time to show the proper develop- 
ment of the action of methylmorphium. 
Our experiments were made on frogs and rabbits with the chloride 
of methylmorphium, which is a very soluble salt. 
Frogs . — When a small dose of 5 milligrms., or a larger dose, is 
given subcutaneously to a frog, the symptoms are very much the 
same in all cases. The animal speedily passes into a more or less 
flaccid condition, and remains so for a length of time varying with 
the size of the dose. 
On examining more particularly into the causes of this paralysis, 
and into what parts of the nervous system are affected, we found 
that these depended greatly on the amount of methylmorphium 
administered. When a small or medium dose is given, the brain 
and spinal cord are depressed in very much the same way as by a 
small dose of morphine, while the motor nerves are left practically 
unaffected. The depression is followed by slight increase of the 
reflex excitability. 
This is shown in the two following experiments : — 
Expt. 16. — Frog, 31 grrns. R., 22 in 10 seconds. 
11.38 — 0‘005 ini C ub. cent, water subcutaneously. 
11.47. — Is much duller; reflexes much diminished. R., 14. 
11.58. — Lies on back if placed there; reflexes much diminished ; 
movements badly co-ordinated. R., 12. 
12.4. — Left sciatic nerve exposed, and when stimulated at 220 
mm. (Du Bois Reymond Coil) gives marked contraction of muscles. 
12.12.— Reacts only by slight twitch when severely pinched with 
forceps. Sciatic nerve markedly excitable at 220 mm. 
1.0 — Is quite flaccid ; scarcely responds to severe pinching. Left 
sciatic quite excitable at 200 mm., right sciatic at 180 mm. 
2.10. — Recovering; moves about if pinched. Nerves same. 
6.30. — Is still rather depressed. Nerves same. 
