An experimental inquiry into the physiological action of ergot of rye / by Samuuel Wright.

  • Wright Samuel, 1816 or, 17-1853.
Date:
[1838?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An experimental inquiry into the physiological action of ergot of rye / by Samuuel Wright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    35/42 (page 35)
    tlie spine became erect, and stood at right angles with the skin. The tail moved tremulously for some time, and then described a curve towards the back. In fifteen minutes from the commence- ment, paralysis of the hind-legs came on, but during a further period of twenty minutes, neither the motility nor the sensibility of the anterior part of the body was impaired. The pupil dilated without previously contracting, and it was not until ten minutes before death, that the eye was insensible to external impressions. Very little alteration was observed in the motions of the heart, though the respiration was much slower than usual. The skin for half an hour prior to dissolution was quite cold, and remarka- bly loose. No further symptoms occurred worthy to be particu- larized, until the death of the animal, which happened in two hours and forty-five minutes from the first injection. Autopsy.—Excepting the presence of venous blood in the left cavities of the heart, there was no appearance meriting notice. The brain even was natural, and its membranes were but slightly marked by a few solitary vessels. Paralysis that results from an injection of ergot into the animal system, is not always accompanied with a loss of feeling. In two instances where I have injected it by the veins, there has resulted an extraordinary increase of sensibility, so much so, that even touching the hairs at the extremity of the tail caused the animals to cry out in agony; a breeze of air produced the same effect; and again, without any apparent reason, there was a convul- sive start, and a yell at the moment, expressive of acute suffering. Both these animals recovered. In other cases, I have injected mild solutions of ergot into the arteries and veins, without producing any sensible effects whatever, —neither increase nor decrease of sensibility, no paralysis or stu- por ; and yet death has resulted in ten, fourteen, or twenty hours. The autopsies have failed to disclose any morbid appearances ex- cept the presence of dark blood in the left ventricle, and slight congestion in the lungs; circumstances attributable to the fact, that the respiration has diminished in a ratio disproportionate to the decrease of the action of the heart. On the contrary, I have injected mild solutions of ergot into the arteries and veins without destroying the animals, though they have invariably looked meagre and sickly, and have never regain- ed their previous strength or liveliness.* Inferences.—These experiments are of so plain and pointed a nature, as to require little enlargement in verbal explanation. They appear to justify the following conclusions. * Ur Mackenzie informs me that he has injected a solution furnished by two drachms of ergot, into the femoral vein of a dog without any bad effects ; the chief symptom being hurried respiration.