632 
DR. T. L. BRUNT ON AND MR. W. PYE ON THE ACTION 
condition of the auricles. The ventricles, however, were never found to be completely 
emptied of blood, and on one or two occasions the heart was found to be moderately 
distended, the left ventricle containing well arterialized blood. 
On several occasions, but here also with one or two exceptions, a remarkable vitality' 
of the auricles was noticed (Experiment I.). 
The post mortem appearances of the heart and their physiological value will be 
noticed more particularly in the section which treats especially of the action of that 
organ. 
The lungs were, in all cases in which they were noticed, found to be pale, except in 
Experiment III. (see Experiment XXXI.). 
One of the most noteworthy phenomena is the action of a small dose upon a cat in 
causing an utter refusal to take either food or drink, and that, notwithstanding this 
total abstinence from nourishment, the animal should live such a long time, should show 
considerable muscular power (being able to jump from the floor upon a chair up to the 
day before its death), and should have still retained so much of its subcutaneous and 
omental fat. Another point to be noted is the occurrence of subcutaneous abscesses, 
none of which were near the point where the poison had been injected. 
This long continuance of life and retention of strength seem to us to indicate that 
the processes of tissue change had been retarded by the poison ; and the granular condi- 
tion of the striated muscles appears to indicate a diminution especially in the processes 
of oxidation. 
Action on Dogs. 
Experiment IV. — May 9. 
The effect of the poison on dogs was investigated in the same manner as it had already 
been on cats in Experiments I.— III. It will be seen that the results do not differ in any 
noteworthy point from those previously obtained. 
Six cub. centims. of the solution were injected beneath the skin of a dog weighing' 
8 lbs. It vomited for the first time twenty minutes afterwards, and this vomiting con- 
tinued at gradually increasing intervals of from 15 minutes to three quarters of an hour 
for the next four hours. At the end of that time the animal was very restless, and con- 
tinued to be so while it was observed. On the following day its gait became staggering ; 
and, finally, it lay flat on its belly, and died about thirty hours after the drug was 
administered. 
GENERAL ACTION ON BIRDS. 
Birds are affected very readily by the poison, and the symptoms produced in them are 
similar to those observed in mammals. This will be seen by the results of the follow- 
ing experiment. 
Experiment V. 
A full-grown pigeon had nearly 1 cub. centim. of the solution injected beneath the 
