1035 
The crushed seeds were freed from their oil, either by pressing or extracting with 
ether. The seed cake was now extracted with 10 per cent sodium chloride, in the 
cold, the solution being kept sterile by means of a little toluol or chloroform. It 
was then filtered and the albumins separated by saturation with ammonium sul- 
phate, the precipitate being then collected and dialysed until free from sulphates," 
the dialysed solution being usually prepared of such a strength that 1 cubie centi- 
meter corresponded to 1 gram of seeds. 
The solution gives pronounced reactions for albumins. Two cubic 
centimeters will kill a guinea pig of about 200 grams’ weight in about 
twenty-four hours; boiling the solution for two minutes destroys the 
toxic power. When evaporated in vacuo over sulphuric acid, a white 
powder remains which also gives tests for albumins, but this powder is 
not toxic. 
The albumin in the solution can also be precipitated by alcohol, but 
in a nontoxic form. Very many experiments were made in an attempt 
to obtain the toxin in a more concentrated condition, but all were un- 
successful. All the solutions used in these experiments were sterile. 
The results of the work on a large number of guinea pigs and rabbits, 
which was carried out with Dr. Strong, Chief of the Biological Labora- 
tory,*° would seem to indicate that the seeds of Aleurites moluccana 
contain a toxalbumin which is either unstable, or present in minute 
amount, or only very moderately poisonous. 
Injections of 1 cubic centimeter of the oil of Aleurites moluccana, both 
subcutaneously and intraperitoneally, into guinea pigs of about 200 grams, 
weight had no effect; neither did the acids produced by saponifying the 
oil and. given im doses of one cubic centimeter behave differently. Nega- 
tive results were also obtained when 1 to 2 cubic centimeters of the oil 
were ingested by these animals, although this latter quantity is over ten 
times the dose given by Dr. O. Roche. The oil which I used was carefully 
prepared and neutral, so that, if it were active, the results could be 
attributed to it and not to the acids or other substances which might be 
present in the commercial article. 
Similar experiences as regards a toxalbumin were found after a study 
of the seeds of Aleurites trisperma. 
Jatropha curcus Linn." (Huphorbiacee) is a native of tropical 
“In all my dialyses I have used collodion tubes prepared according to the 
method of Gorsline. (Contributions to Medical Research, dedicated to Dr. 
Vaughan by his students, Ann Arbor, Mich. (1903), p. 390.) I can recommend 
them very highly. The speed of dialysis is very much greater than with parch- 
ment paper, and the tubes are quickly and easily prepared. 1 have found that the 
collodion sack slips off from the glass tube over which it is prepared very easily 
if, just before dipping the glass tube in the collodion, one rubs over it a little soap 
suds, which are then wiped off with a towel, so as to leave a thin, invisible coating 
of soap on the glass. 
“Tl wish to express my thanks to Dr. Strong for his interest in this work. 
“Sp. Pl. (1753), 1006; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind., 5, 383. 
