102 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
to admit blood from the auricles; in six minutes and thirty 
seconds, the greater portion of the ventricle was continuously pale 
and contracted, each auricular systole propelling merely a small 
drop of blood into the ventricle, where it produced a dark, pouch¬ 
like projection, which at times disappeared, and at other times 
only changed its position during the imperfect systole of the ven¬ 
tricle ; in seven minutes, the ventricle altogether ceased to con¬ 
tract, while the movements of the auricles continued at nearly 
the normal rate; and in eighteen minutes, the auricles in their 
turn became motionless, but, in place of being contracted and empty 
like the ventricle, they were distended and full of dark blood. 
Notwithstanding this absolute paralysis of the heart, respiratory 
movements occurred for thirty-five minutes after the ventricle had 
ceased to contract, and the frog jumped about actively for some 
time after this. 
The experiments that have been performed with birds and mam¬ 
mals have likewise shown that this poison acts primarily on the 
heart. 
An endeavour was made to ascertain by what mode of action 
these very peculiar cardiac effects are produced. With this object 
experiments were made, in which the cerebro-spinal axis was com¬ 
pletely destroyed, in which the vagi nerves were divided, and in 
which the peripheral terminations of the vagi were paralysed by 
atropia, previously to the exhibition of the Kombi poison ; but no 
important modifications were thereby caused, and it is therefore 
obvious that the action on the heart is not exerted through the 
cerebro-spinal nerves. In other experiments, after complete cardiac 
paralysis, the surface of the heart was irritated by galvanic and 
other stimulants, but no effect was thereby caused. 
Another very prominent action of this poison is that exerted on 
the voluntary muscles, by which their activity is gradually impaired, 
and finally completely destroyed, so that the muscles are quickly in 
a condition of true rigor mortis. 
Regarding the other physiological effects, it is sufficient briefly 
to mention that the sensory and motor spinal nerves, the abdominal 
and cervical sympathetics, and the muscular walls of the stomach, 
intestines, bladder, and uterus, are paralysed at an early stage, 
although not until the Wood-heart has ceased to contract; while 
