On the influence of some antipyretics on the neuro-muscular coördination test of “tapping.”

Abstract

In connection with a psycho-pharmacological study of the antipyretics including observations on their effect on the reaction-time, blood pressure, vision, and hearing, some observations were made on the influence of these drugs on the well-known psychological coördination test of “tapping.” This test consists briefly in the continuous tapping by the subject with a brass stylus upon a brass plate so adjusted that each tap or contact of the stylus on the brass plate is electrically registered on a counter. The number of taps made over a definite period of time is a rough index of the neuro-muscular coördination of the arm muscles. In the present investigation, observations were made upon the authors and occasionally on other subjects. The subject was required to tap continuously for three minutes at a time, and the number of taps registered was noted at the end of each minute. Having noted the normal tapping number in any one experiment, the subject was given an antipyretic by mouth and the test was repeated, generally about an hour later, but in some cases several readings were repeatedly taken at definite intervals. The effect of the following drugs was studied: Phenacetin, antipyrin, acetanilid, quinine sulphate, pyramidon, aspirin and salol. In addition to the study of individual drugs, the following combinations were also administered: Acetanilid plus phenacetin, 5 grains each; phenacetin plus salol, 2 1/2 grains each and 5 grains each; aspirin and salol, 5 grains each; acetanilid and salol, 2 1/2 grains each and 5 grains each; and antipyrin and aspirin, 5 grains each. The results of the experiments were not very striking. Briefly, however, the effects of the drugs may be summarized as follows: Phenacetin, acetanilid, antipyrine and quinine in the ordinary doses (not exceeding 5 grains) showed a definite tendency to improve the tapping rate.