MR. J. PRIESTLEY ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF VANADIUM. 
533 
Exp. LIII.— June 30, 1875. 
Frog. — Of large size. 
Dose -5 cub. centim. of the 5 per cent, solution (25 milligrammes V 2 0 5 ), 
injected into the abdominal vein. 
Time. 
Pulse in 
10 seconds. 
Remarks. 
h. m. s. 
4 5 0 
Divided the cord at the atlanto-occipital articulation, and destroyed 
the brain. 
4 45 0 
9-10 
Tied the frog down on its back : inserted cannula into the abdominal 
vein for injection. Exposed the heart, avoiding all bleeding. 
Heart-beats counted directly. 
4 50 0 
9 
Injected about -25 cub. centim. of the solution. Ventricle seems much 
dilated and very purple. 
Heart-beats not so vigorous. 
4 52 0 
9-10 
Heart-beats rather more vigorous. 
4 54 0 
9-10 
Rest of solution injected. Ventricle seems very purple : beats less 
vigorously. 
Reflex action quite normal on pinching. 
4 57 0 
7-7-5 
n 
Ventricle becomes purple and distended : heart-beats less vigorous. 
4 59 30 
i 
7 
Heart-beats less vigorous. Ventricle much dilated and purple. 
5 4 0 
6 
Ventricle seems unable to contract so as to drive out the whole of the 
contained blood. 
5 5 30 
6-7 
5 8 0 
5 
5 10 0 
5 
5 11 0 
5 
5 21 0 
5-5-5 
Heart-beats more vigorous. 
5 30 0 
4-5 
5 33 0 
5 
Reflex action slight on pinching. 
5 38 30 
5 
Heart-beats weaker. 
5 50 0 
5 
5 55 0 
5 
5 59 0 
5 
Reflex activity has quite disappeared. 
8 30 0 
The heart went on beating for a long time, exhibiting no other symptoms 
than a gradually increasing languor. At 8 h 30 m it was left for 
the night, beating, but very slowly. 
From this experiment we learn that the effect upon the heart of vanadium, when 
injected directly into blood-vessels, is to cause a diminution in the rapidity and the 
vigour of its beats. 
Resume of the Action of Vanadium upon the Circulation. 
In the preceding experiments the solution containing vanadium was injected either 
underneath the skin or directly into veins. The results in the latter case were exactly 
similar in kind to those in the former ; but they took place with extreme rapidity, owing 
to the more concentrated action of the poison. 
A consideration of the experiments shows that the influence of vanadium upon the 
