On the effects of sulphate of atropia on the nervous system of frogs / by Sydney Ringer ... and William Murrell.

  • Ringer, Sydney, 1835-1910
Date:
[1876-1877]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the effects of sulphate of atropia on the nervous system of frogs / by Sydney Ringer ... and William Murrell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [From ON THE EFFECTS OF SULPHATE OF ATROPIA ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF FROGS. By Sydney Ringer, M. D., Professor of Therapeutics at University College, -and William Murrell, LR.C.P., Sharpey Phy¬ siological Scholar. In the course of an experimental investigation made with the view of elucidating the true nature of tetanus, we had occasion to repeat many of Dr T. R. Frasers well-known experiments on the influence of atropia on the nervous system of frogs. We are induced to publish our observations; for though in the main they are confirmatory of those of previous observers, they differ from them in some respects. In the first place we will speak of the tetanizing action of atropia. Dr Fraser has shown (1) that in frogs tetanic symp¬ toms follow the subcutaneous injection of a dose of sulphate of atropia equivalent to about 1,000th of the weight of the animal; (2) that this tetanus sometimes sets in on the second day, but more frequently on the third, fourth, or fifth; (3) that it varies in its duration from a few hours to seventeen days; (4) that it is due to the action of the drug on the cord [medulla oblongata and medulla spinalis). The observations were made during the months of May, June and July. The frogs used for our experiments were with a few exceptions the ordinary Rana temporaria. We employed, except when the contrary is stated, a 1 in 20 solution of sul¬ phate of atropia in water, the requisite dose being injected either under the skin of the back or into the axilla. The first twelve cases were observed thriee daily, between seven and eight in the morning, one and two in the afternoon, and five and six in the. evening. In the subsequent experiments, observations were made much more frequently, with the view of determining how rapidly paralysis occurred, how soon it reached its height, and how quickly it declined. In some cases the animal was under almost continuous observation for many hours, in others the notes were taken every eight or ten minutes for the first hour, and hourly or every three hours subsequently. We may take this op-