PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION, AND ANTAGONISM. 
231 
Action of elements upon general condition of organism as a poison acting gradually. 
Substance. 
Proportion to gramme of body-weight of Frog in 
which element acts as a poison. 
Potassium chloride. 
. . -0013 
Beryllium choride . 
. . -0013 
Rubidium chloride . 
. . -0013 to 0015 
Barium chloride 
. . -0013 
Ammonium chloride 
. . -0015 
Caesium chloride 
. . -0021 
Lithium cloride . 
. . -0023 to -0032 
Lanthanum chloride 
. . -004 
Didymium chloride 
. . -0042 
Erbium chloride 
. . -006 
Strontium chloride 
. . -0055 to -0075 
Yttrium chloride 
. . -009 
Sodium .... 
. . -0095 
Calcium .... 
. . -013 to -017 
Monads. Atomic weights. 
Dyads. Atomic weights. 
Potassium . 
.... -0013 
39-10 
Beryllium . 
. -0013 
9-4 
Rubidium . 
.... -013 to 15 
85-4 
Barium . 
.-0013 
13-7 
Caesium. 
.... -0021 
13-3 
Lanthanum 
.-004 
93-6 
Lithium 
.... -0023 to 32 
7 
Didymium . 
.-004 
95 
Sodium . 
.... -0095 
23 
Erbium . 
.-006 
112-6 
Strontium . 
. -0065 
87-6 
Yttrium . 
.-009 
61-7 
Calcium. 
.-013 
40 
On the Action of Alkali and Acid on Muscle.' 1 ' 
The remarkable results obtained by Gaskell upon the action of very dilute acids 
and alkalies on the blood-vessels, induced us to examine the action of similar solu¬ 
tions upon voluntary muscle. Gaskell found that alkalies cause contraction, 
and dilute acids relaxation, of the involuntary muscular fibres of the blood-vessels. 
Our observations show that this is also the case with voluntary muscular fibre, 
but, in addition, we note that acids beyond a certain strength cause a permanent 
contraction. 
We tested the action of dilute acids and alkalies on muscle in two ways:—first 
by applying them directly to the muscle, and secondly by causing them to circulate 
artificially through the vessels supplying it. As water alone has a destructive action 
on muscular fibre, the acid and alkali was in all cases added to a 0'75 per cent, 
solution of sodium chloride. 
The muscle-chamber designed by one of us (Cash), which was used in these and many 
other experiments, consists of a glass cylinder 3 centims. broad, 7 centims. long, and with 
* This part of the paper was received Jane 15, 1881, but publication was deferred. 
