Researches on the nature and action of Indian and African arrow-poison / by Hermann Beigel.

  • Beigel, Hermann, 1830-1879.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Researches on the nature and action of Indian and African arrow-poison / by Hermann Beigel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    the fifth was made to swallow a somewhat larger quantity. For coniparisoa's sake, a sixth frog was poisoned by an equally large dose, as in the first four frogs, of Urari. The first fact observable was the more rapid action of the Urari-poison; for the urarirised frog after a very few minutes began to lie flat on the table, the hinder legs extended, while the other frogs at this time were still jumping about without exhibiting any sign of affection. But after about ten or fifteen minutes their movements began to be slower; yet complete paralysis could only be observed after about three quarters of an hour. It is well known that urarirised frogs are most appropriate objects for observing the circulation of the blood, provided such doses are given as to paralyze, but not to kill the animals. But in the frogs treated with African poison, the circulation could already be seen going on very slowly when the first sign of beginning paralysis consisted only in slow movements. The state of sensibility was likewise very different. The urarirised frogs, as already mentioned, retain for a very long time the capability of being convulsed by the electric current when applied immediately to the skin or muscles, and to a certain extent even when applied to the nerves. This property exists only a short time after the death of animals poisoned by the African arrow-poison, and after about half an hour neither direct nor indirect application of the strongest current, ap- plied to the skin, muscles or nerves, will cause any contraction of the frog's muscles. In another series of experiments five large frogs were in- jected with the following doses of the African poison: No. I. Two milligrs. No. II. One milligr. No. III. One-tenth of a milligr. No. IV. One-twentieth of a milligr. No. V. One-fortieth of a milligr. = 0'0640 grains. Frog No. I. After five minutes paralysis ensued, and al- though twitching on the skin by means of a forceps still produced reaction of the muscles, yet when the thorax was opened the heart was not beating any more, having ceased to throb after