Experiments on the Nervous System with Opium and Metalline Substances: Made Chiefly with the View of Determining the Nature and Effects of Animal ElectricityMonro, Alexander
Science
Experiments on the Nervous System with Opium and Metalline Substances: Made Chiefly with the View of Determining the Nature and Effects of Animal Electricity
Monro, Alexander
Electrophysiology -- Early works to 1800; Frogs -- Physiology; Nervous system -- Experiments -- Early works to 1800
I CUT one hole in the fore and upper part of the Cranium and Dura Mater
of a Frog, and another in the back part of the lowermost Vertebræ, and
then injected, from the one hole to the other, a small syringe full
of water, in five ounces of which one ounce of Opium had been infused
for three days. The infusion, by this means brought into contact
with the whole surface of the Encephalon and Spinal Marrow, produced
almost instantly universal convulsions; and, in less than two minutes
thereafter, the Animal was incapable of moving its body from the place
where it was laid. A quarter of an hour thereafter, I found the Heart
beating twenty-five times only in the minute; and so feebly, that it
could not entirely expel the Blood. When, half an hour thereafter,
the Sciatic Nerves were pinched, a light tremor only was excited in
the Muscles of the Leg; and Animal Electricity produced but feeble
twitchings of the Muscles.
THE infusion of Opium, injected in the same manner in Rabbits and in a
Pig, produced similar effects.
I HAD long ago[1] observed, that an infusion of Opium, poured into
the Cavity of the Abdomen of a Frog, after cutting out its Heart,
occasioned, in a few minutes, convulsions of its hind Legs. I have
since found, that, after cutting off the Head, and cutting out the
Heart of a Frog, its hind Legs are considerably weakened by pouring an
infusion of Opium into the Cavity of its Abdomen.
ALTHOUGH an infusion of Opium poured into the Auricle and Ventricle
of the Heart of a Frog, instantly renders that Organ incapable of
contraction, and, even after the Aorta has been previously cut,
occasions convulsions of the Legs, yet I have not found that by Opium
applied to the Brain, the Spinal Marrow, the Heart, or Abdominal
Viscera, the Muscles of the Legs were so entirely killed as not to
perform some motion when their Nerves were pinched, or when they were
acted on by Animal Electricity.
AFTER taking out the lower half of the Spinal Marrow, and likewise
cutting transversely all the parts at the Pelvis, except the Crural
Arteries and Veins and Lymphatics, which probably accompany them, I
found that an infusion of Opium, applied to the Skin and Muscles of
the Legs, affected the superior parts of the Body[2]: more probably,
in my opinion, by absorption, than through any minute remanent
branches of the Nerves, especially as I do not find, on laying the
Vessels so prepared over a gold probe, and touching with it Zinc
laid under the Spine, that convulsions of the Legs can be excited.
At the same time, the quantity of Opium absorbed is so small, that I
could not distinguish its smell or taste in the Blood; nor did I find
these distinguishable, in other Experiments, in which the Frogs were
violently convulsed after applying the infusion to the surface of their
Skin.
ANIMAL Electricity or different metals applied to the Head of a Frog,
or to any part of its Spine above its sixth Vertebra, do not occasion
convulsions of its hind Legs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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