104 
THE BITTER PRINCIPLE OF DIGITALIS. 
ART. XXV. — PHYSIOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTICAL AC- 
TION OF THE BITTER PRINCIPLE OF DIGITALIS. 
M. Homolle exhibited the bitter principle to a rabbit, in- 
troducing 5 centigrms. into the cellular tissue of the thigh ; it 
produced anxiety, trembling, and reduction of the pulse from 
148 to 124; 10 centigrms. reduced it from 108 to 102, it sub- 
sequently rose to 144. 15, 20 and 30 centigrms. , were after- 
wards given, and reduced the action of the heart 24 to 30 
beats. During these experiments there was no vomiting ; the 
state of the urine could not be satisfactorily ascertained. It 
was found that a fifth part of the quantity, which when taken 
into the stomach acted as a poison, produced the same effect 
when inserted beneath the skin. 5 centigrms. given to a dog 
had no effect upon the pulse, but produced vomiting. A simi- 
lar dose, repeated also, produced vomiting, a bloody stool, 
and increase of the pulse from 148 to 154. 5 centigrms. in- 
serted beneath the skin caused staggering, hiccough and trem- 
bling, and raised the pulse to 184, the action of the heart be- 
coming irregular and tumultuous. 1 centigrm. applied to a 
blistered surface on the author's arm, in one instance reduced 
the frequency of the pulse, in another increased it, with occa- 
sional intermission, producing headache, dimness of sight and 
lassitude ; the urine was diminished in quantity. 2 centigrms. 
produced analogous effects. 
The author remarks that 1 centigrm., endermically applied, 
is sufficient to produce all the poisonous effects, as headache, 
dimness of sight, general debility, shivering, diminished uri- 
nary secretion, irregularity and intermittence of the pulse, 
without alteration in its frequency. 5 milligrms. taken inter- 
nally produced very similar symptoms, slight diminution of the 
frequency of the pulse, debility and dimness of sight, normal 
quantity of urine, sometimes vomiting, increased frequency of 
pulse on assuming the erect posture ; after the exhibition of 
