360 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
the latter so materially as one would expect from the description 
of Crum Brown and Fraser. 
Codeine, as we have already seen, besides acting on the brain and 
spinal cord, exercises a considerable depressant power on motor nerves. 
In the case of methyl-codeium sulphate the depressant action on the 
spinal cord and motor nerves is much more marked and occurs with 
smaller doses, while that on the cerebrum is lessened. Increase of 
reflexes also occurs after methyl-codeium sulphate. With small 
doses this increase is seen only after about 24 hours in frogs, while 
with larger doses it is obscured or wholly masked by the paralysis 
of motor nerves. If the motor nerves he protected, however, by 
tying the blood-vessels of a part, and the alkaloid be thrown 
directly into the circulation so as to reach the spinal cord at once 
in large amount, then we immediately get marked tetanus, just as 
with other members of the morphine group. 
We now give an account of our experiments from which these 
conclusions have been drawn. 
Frogs. — So small a dose as 1 milligramme subcutaneously pro- 
duces well-marked symptoms of depression of the spinal cord. The 
motor nerves are unaffected, and next day the reflexes are slightly 
increased. Sometimes the increase of reflexes lasts two days. 
When 2-5 milligrammes are given the same symptoms are seen. 
Fxpt. 23. — Frog, 24 grms. R., 25 in 10 seconds. 
11.0. — 0‘005 grm. methyl-codeium sulphate subcutaneously. 
11.7. — Much less active ; movements very clumsy, and jumps with 
difficulty. R., 17. 
11.12. — Placed on back cannot recover itself; pupils small. 
R., 13. 
11.20. — Very flaccid; responds if pinched. R., 14. 
11.30. — Pupils small; corneal reflex very sluggish; responds 
feebly when pinched. R., 10. 
11.45. — Same. Sciatic nerve exposed and stimulated at 220 mm. 
(Du Bois Reymond Coil) gives marked contraction of muscles. 
12.30. — Quite flaccid ; when pinched responds by feeble move- 
ment of legs. Sciatic nerve excitable at 220 mm. 
1.0. — Is gradually recovering. 
2.20. — Can now jump; no increase of reflexes, but a slight dimi- 
nution still. 
