1889 - 90 .] Mr Dott and Dr Stockman on Morphine. 
355 
Expt. 17. — Frog, 24 grms. Whole tissues of right thigh liga- 
tured except sciatic nerve. 
2.36. — 0*005 grm. methylmorphium chloride subcutaneously. 
2.40.— Much duller. 
2.44. — Lies on back; ceased to respire. 
2.48. — No response to severe pinching with forceps. Right 
sciatic quite excitable at 90 mm.; left sciatic quite excitable at 
90 mm. 
6.0. — Has been in same condition. Both sciatic nerves are 
equally excitable at 100 mm. 
Next day. — Has recovered greatly ; active and lively; slight in- 
crease in reflex excitability. Both sciatic nerves are equally excit- 
able. 
From these experiments it is evident that the brain and spinal 
cord are much depressed in activity, the motor nerves being left 
intact, or nearly so. The paralysis and narcosis are due entirely to 
the action on the nerve centres. 
After larger doses deep narcosis quickly supervenes, with greatly 
diminished reflexes, indifference to painful stimuli, and contraction 
of pupils. Much later, complete paralysis or marked depression of 
the motor nerve termination comes on, bub as soon as this has 
passed off the reflex excitability is seen to be greatly increased. 
These results are shown in the following experiment: — 
Expt. 18. — Frog, 24 grms. 
12.3. — 0*01 methylmorphium chloride subcutaneously. 
12.10. — Lying quite flaccid; both pupils small; reflexes greatly 
diminished. When pinched crawls away. 
12.15. — Makes very slight response to severe pinching. Both 
sciatic nerves quite excitable at 120 mm. 
12.45. — Faint twitch of muscles when sciatic nerves are stimu- 
lated. 
1.20. — Sciatic nerves inexcitable to strongest current. 
Next day. — Reflexes are slightly increased. Frog active and 
lively. 
Third day. — Reflex excitability is now markedly exaggerated. 
In another experiment in which the same dose was given the 
motor nerves were never completely paralysed, although much de- 
pressed in electric excitability. 
