This section is from the book "Laboratory Manual Of Pharmacology", by A. D. Bush. Also available from Amazon: Laboratory manual of pharmacology.
1. Take 3 frogs of equal weight and condition. Pith the brain of one, and the cord of the other; leave the third normal. Noting exact time of administration, inject into the lymph sac of each frog 0.25 mil of 0.01% solution Strychnine Sulphate (=0.025 mg.). Make careful comparative observations of results.
2. Inserting one blade of the scissors transversely in a frog's mouth back to the angle of the jaws, amputate the cranium. Plug the aortae to stop hemorrhage. To the exposed cervical cord apply a pledget of cotton moistened with 0.1% solution Strychnine Sulphate. Test reflexes by pinching first the hind-legs, then the fore-legs. Apply minimal break shocks to different cutaneous areas. Explain results.
3. Prepare an anaesthetized mammal (rabbit, cat, or dog) for timed circulatory and respiratory registrations. Obtain ether norms. Intramuscularly administer Strychnine Sulphate 0.7 mg. x kg. Secure continuous tracings throughout, noting extent and character of all variations. Attempt an explanation of each variation. What tentative assumptions might this experiment by itself seem to warrant?
4. Have a fellow-student dispose himself comfortably in a semi-recumbent posture. After 5 minutes secure an average of 3 observations on his several systems. Make the following tests: aesthesia of flexor surface of forearm, color vision, range and acuity of vision, weights discrimination, reaction time, mental facility in multiplication. Administer intramuscularly 0.003 Gm. Strychnine Sulphate. Plot your curves, and repeat the above tests every 45 minutes. Compare results with three others. May any divergencies be explained by temperament or physique?
5. As hospital assignments permit, make careful studies of patients to whom the attending physician has prescribed Strychnine, noting particularly how the several systems seem to respond. Is the reaction observed similar to the accepted laboratory findings ? If not, endeavor to ascertain why.
6. Consult recent literature for at least three articles dealing with Strychnine activity. Write a brief resume of your findings, and check them with citations from your readings.
Frog A | Frog B | Frog C | |
Brain pithed | Cord pithed | ||
Drug given, when? | |||
Increased reflexes | |||
Convulsions (time) | |||
Character | |||
Duration | |||
Termination | |||
Minimal stimulus | |||
Stimulus optional | |||
Location | |||
Quality |
What deductions may be tentatively drawn ?_________________________________
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Experiment No. 2. Explain briefly your findings:____________________________________________
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Experiment No. 3. Kymograph records of Strychnine action:___________________________________
Experiment No. 3 (continued). Explain variations that developed. What assumptions seem warranted?________________
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Observations | Subject No. 1 | Subject No. 2 | Subject No. 3 | Subject No. 4 | ||||||||
Norm. | 45m | 90m | Norm. | 45m | 90m | Norm. | 45m | 90m | Norm. | 45m | 90m | |
AEsthesia | ||||||||||||
Color vision | ||||||||||||
Range of vision | ||||||||||||
Acuity of vision | ||||||||||||
Weights discrimination | ||||||||||||
Reaction time | ||||||||||||
Sight | ||||||||||||
Sound | ||||||||||||
Touch | ||||||||||||
Multiplying time | ||||||||||||
Pulse rate | ||||||||||||
Blood-pressure |
Remarks:
Subject's initials or No..................................................................... Date......................................................................................__
Age.................Sex................Height............... Weight.................... Medicine..................................................................................
Condition................................................................................................._ Dose__...........___........................................................._
Thermometer............................................................................................ How administered........................................................._
Barometer................................................................................................... Remarks................................................................................
Relative humidity................................................................................... Reporter................................................................................_
Experiment No. 5. Report:____________________________________________________________
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Experiment No. 6. Report:____________________________________________________________
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