214 BUS. T. L. BRUNTON AND J. T. CASH ON CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION, 
radicals for hydrogen increases the paralyzing action of ammonia on motor nerves, or 
indeed alters its effect upon the muscle. 
We shall presently have to notice, however, the marked change which occurs in 
physiological action, when we pass from an ammonia in which nitrogen is combined 
with three atoms of an alcohol radical to those in which we have it combined with 
four atoms as tetramethyl- and tetraethyl-ammonium iodides. 
Chlorides. 
Ammonium chloride has been shown by Boehm and Lange to produce convulsions 
resembling ammonia itself. 
Amylamine hydrochlorate has been shown by Dujardin-Beaumetz to have a 
convulsant action upon Babbits. 
Our experiments on Frogs have led to the following results :— 
We found that methylamine chloride caused gradual failure of reflex action 
generally unaccompanied by spasm, while the diminished reflex produced by ethylamine 
chloride was of a spasmodic nature, though there was no true tetanus. With 
amylamine chloride we observed no spasm. In 'one case there was a tendency to 
spasm chiefly in the hyoglossus muscle. 
The dimethyl- and diethyl-ammonium chloride cause weakness, lethargy, and 
failure of reflex action, but no distinct spasm. A tremor is observed on movement, 
but this seems to be rather due to failure of motor nerves than to increased excitability 
of nerve centres. 
Their action upon motor nerves and muscles appeal’s to have been much the 
same as that of ethylamine : the nerve not being directly paralyzed, but its power of 
transmitting stimuli continuously being greatly diminished. 
The muscle has at first its contractility increased but afterwards diminished 
(Plate 8, fig. 1, a, b, c, cl). In these experiments on Frogs the chlorine does not appear 
to have altered the action of the compound ammonias with which it is combined. 
From experiments on Bats we find that both diethyl- and triethyl- ammonium 
chlorides have a similar action. The most marked symptoms are motor weakness 
and tremor. The tremor is most perceptible when the animal moves, and there is a 
very curious spasmodic movement of the head causing the chin to rap upon the floor. 
Before death, convulsions occur, but these are probably asphyxial. 
In Babbits the effect is somewhat similar. The movements become tremulous, 
are exaggerated and scrambling in character, suggestive of impaired co-ordination. 
No ansesthesia was observed. Beflex was lost gradually and disappeared, first in the 
hind limbs. 
The most marked effect of the chlorine in altering the action of the compound 
ammonias appears in these experiments to be a tendency to produce tremor. It is 
perhaps not quite easy to say positively what the cause of this tremor is, but we are 
