Viewing page 50 of 104

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

49

nerve structure. 
It has been shown that very small doses of the drug will stimulate the motor nerve-elements and that larger doses of it will stimulate the inhibitory portion of the nerve-supply of these organs. thus, very small doses of atropine will give rise to contraction of the pupil, to acceleration of the heart's action, to increased peristaltis of the intestine; large doses on the contrary produce dilatation of the pupil, arrest the heart in diastole and stops the peristaltic movement of the intestine. Furthermore, in view if the important researches by Ladenbury on the chemical constitution of atropine, it seemed to me strongly indicated to try and ascertain if this double action of atropine could possibly be explained by a careful study and comparison of the action of its two constituents - tropine and tropic acid.