OF THE BAEK OF ERYTHEOPHLEUM GUINENSE. 
633 
wing. In ten minutes a quivering motion of the wings was noticed ; in a quarter of an 
hour its feathers were puffed out, its gait was staggering ; twenty-four minutes after 
injection it began to vomit. This was repeated four minutes afterwards more violently, 
and several times subsequently. Forty minutes after the injection it was unable to 
stand; and from that time to its death, one hour and thirty -five minutes after injection, 
it lay flat on the table, occasionally attempting to vomit unsuccessfully. For the last 
forty minutes its respirations were hardly visible, but it moved when roused. Violent 
expiratory movements came on just before the respiration finally ceased. 
GENERAL ACTION ON FISHES AND FROGS. 
In fishes and frogs there is but slight susceptibility to the poison, and the effects pro- 
duced by it are similar in the two classes. The most obvious general symptoms are 
muscular paralysis and cessation of respiration, preceded by spasmodic movements. It 
will be seen later, however (Experiment XVIII.), that the particular action of the drug 
on the heart is well shown in frogs. 
Experiment VI. — February 21. 
One third of a cub. centim. of the solution was injected beneath the skin of a medium- 
sized frog. In two minutes slight tonic contraction of the limbs was observed ; in four 
minutes it was jumping rather actively, but fell over on its back ; in twelve minutes the 
respiratory movements had become almost imperceptible ; and from this time the reflex 
movements of the limbs on irritation gradually got weaker and weaker, and finally 
ceased thirty-three minutes after the injection. 
After death, the ventricle was found firmly contracted, the auricles and venous trunks 
engorged. 
Experiment VII. — February 21. 
Experiment VI. was repeated with double the dose. The frog was slightly larger 
than the one first used; but reflex action ceased within a few seconds of the same time 
after injection. The general effects were almost the same as in Experiment VI., save 
that five minutes before reflex movements ceased there were four spasmodic inspirations. 
Experiment VIII. — April 18. 
The effect on fishes was tried. First, 55 cub. centims. of a watery solution of 
casca were added to 3 litres of water in which a gold-fish weighing 3 ounces was swim- 
ming. At the end of three hours no effect was produced on the fish. 1*3 cub. centim. 
of the alcoholic solution were then injected into the side of the fish, a little in front of 
the tail. In five minutes it began to roll from side to side; the respirations were 
catching. For the next ten minutes it lay chiefly on its side, occasionally swimming 
about actively. 
At the end of twenty-five minutes from the time of injection it appeared to have 
nearly recovered itself, and 1 cub. centim. more of the alcoholic solution was injected. 
