ACUTE ESERINE POISONING IN THE MONKEY

Abstract

The changes in pulmonary ventilation which follow intraven. infection of lethal and sublethal doses of eserine in the urethanized monkey were studied. A reduction in min. vol. is the outstanding change; but periods of overventilation may occur both before and after the phase of underventilation. When death takes place within 10 min. respiration fails before the heart, whereas when death is delayed, both fail together. Different elements of the respiratory mechanism differ in their susceptibility to eserine. Thus diaphragmatic and intercostal function are rarely lost together, and gasping may continue for long periods after eupnoeic breathing has failed.