222 DRS. T. L. BRUNTON AND J. T. CASH ON CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION, 
Action of Salts of the Alkaline Group on Muscle and Nerve, and a 
Comparison of their Actions with that of Ammonia. 
Tlie bodies usually included in the group of alkalies are, in addition to ammonia, 
lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and caesium: these are all monads. Mexdelejeff 
includes in the monad group copper, silver, and gold, in addition to the substances 
just mentioned; but there is such a well marked difference between the general 
properties of the metals last mentioned and those of the alkalies that we have not 
included them in our research. 
On comparing the general action of ammonia with these substances, the first thing 
that strikes us is that ammonia is the only one which has any tetanising action. 
Sometimes reflex action seems to be a little excited at first in poisoning by potassium 
and rubidium, but this excitement is slight, soon passes off, and is succeeded by 
torpor. 
In the case of sodium, lithium, and caesium, the symptoms in Frogs are those of 
gradually increasing torpor. 
Sodium has no action at all in small quantities, but in concentrated solutions 
appears to paralyze nerve centres, nerves, and muscles, all at the same time. Lithium, 
rubidium, and caesium have a tendency to affect either the upper part of the spinal 
cord or the higher motor centres connected with the lore limbs, as in poisoning by 
lithium and caesium the reflex disappears sooner from the arms than from the legs, 
and stiffness was noticed in the arms in poisoning by lithium and caesium, though no 
distinct spasm was observed. The motor nerves are not paralyzed by sodium or 
rubidium, but with these exceptions they are paralyzed to a greater or less extent 
by the other substances belonging to this group. Lithium and potassium are most 
powerful, 
In considering the effect of the alkalies, and still more, perhaps, in the case of the 
alkaline earths, we have carefully to distinguish between the action of the poisons 
on the active contraction of muscle and on the residual shortening, which continues 
for a greater or less time after the contraction has passed. 
To this shortening we have sometimes given the name of viscosity, at others, 
and more generally, we have employed the term used by German and French writers, 
contracture. 
In regard to active muscular contraction also, we must note both the height of 
the curve, indicating the amount of contraction and its length, indicating the length 
or duration of contraction. The exact difference between the action of the various 
substances will be seen more in detail by a glance at the accompanying tables and 
curves. 
But we may here state generally that the contractile power of the muscle, as shown 
by the height of the curve it describes, is increased by ammonium, potassium, and 
sometimes by rubidium and caesium. 
