•58 Proceed inys. 



Dry Distillation of the Base. 



On heating piikateine to redness with soda lime, ammonia and unrecognisable fumes 

 are given oH. On heating with zinc-dust no smell of quinoline or pyridine could be 

 detected. 



2Jefh-oxy Groups. 



Pukateine, examined by Zeisel's method for meth-oxy groups, gives negative results. 



Hydroxyl Groups. 



Pukateine dissolved in pyridine, when treated with benzoyl chloride, gives a com- 

 pound which is under investigation. 



Nitro Body. 



Pukateine in solution in glacial acetic acid is easily nitrated by the cautious addition 

 of a few drops of concentrated nitric acid. The nitro-derivative has strongly acidic 

 functions, and dissolves in alkalis to an orange-red solution. 



Latirdine. 



Chloroform extracts from the neutralised alcoholic extracts a rubbery mass, which, 

 on treatment with dilute sulphimc acid, yielded a crystalline salt of another alkaloid, 

 •of which but a small quantity has been prepared. The sulphate dissolves to a dark- 

 brown or yellow solution in hot water, recrystallizing on cooling, melts between 105- 

 110° C, turns pink on exposure to light, and gives the characteristic reactions with al- 

 kaloid reagents. Concentrated sulphuric acid dissolves this alkaloid with the production 

 of a beautiful nickel-green colour, which turns to a rose colour on standing. The name 

 " laureline " is proposed for this alkaloid. 



Pharmacology. 



Professor John Malcolm, of Dunedin, is investigating the pharmacology of the 

 alkaloids of the pukatea, and furnishes the following preliminary note : — 



Pukateine itself is apparently inactive, due probably to its insolubility. The 

 hydrochloride is very soluble, and shows some of the typical actions of the alkaloids 

 in general. 



Like strychnine, though in relatively much larger doses (0-25 grams per kilo.), it 

 has a convulsant action on the nerve-cells of the spinal cord. In the rabbit tlie con- 

 vulsions resemble closely those of strychnine poisoning, but in the frog the effect of the 

 drug on the peripheral neuro-muscular apparatus modifies the result, for, though the 

 spasms are easily set u]i and begin by an intense general contraction of all the muscles 

 of the body, relaxation follows almost immediately. An isolated nerve-muscle pre- 

 paration from such a frog cannot be tetanised by a succession of stimuli — the con- 

 traction begins well, but ceases very soon, altliough the stimulation continues. 



This is probably allied to the general action of alkaloids in paralysing the motor 

 nerve-endings in muscle, or it may be regarded as a fatigue phenomenon. 



Apart from such alkaloidal effects, pukateine salts have not been found to possess 

 -any marked pharmacological actions. On intravenous injection the blood-jjressure 

 falls slightly, the heart beats slowly and forcibly, and death results from respiratory 

 iailure, sometimes with great suddenness. 



When the alkaloid is rubbed on to the tongue some localised numbness is felt, antl 

 in frogs imder the influence of the drug there may be no reflex response from some areas 

 of the skin, while other areas give reflexes, but this effect appears late, and is probably 

 <lue to an action on the "herve-cells of the spinal cord. 



Mr. Thomson, Editor of the " Transactions of the New Zealand Insti- 

 tute," announced that it had been decided to enlarge the size of the volume, 

 commencing with the forthcoming volume (xh), which would be about the 

 same size as the original seventeen volumes ; also, that the Proceedings will 

 in future be published separately, at intervals, containing the minutes of the 

 annual meeting of the Governors of the New Zealand Institute, the pro- 

 •ceedings of the affiliated societies, with abstracts of papers read, and any 

 notes of interest to naturalists in the Dominion. 



The presidential address was then delivered by Professor Park ; it was 

 entitled " The Origin and History of the Wakatipu District," and was 



