Floristik etc. — Pflanzenchemie. 571 



enthaltene Kritik der vom Verf. (ibid. VIII, p. 315) publizierten Ab- 

 handlung über südliche und südöstliche Elemente in der Flora der 

 Stockholmer-Gegend. 



Verf, ist, ähnlich wie R., der Meinung, dass der Wind der 

 wichtigste zonen-bildende Faktor ist. — Die maritime Laubholz- 

 grenze verläuft nach S. nirgends innerhalb der Kiefergrenze. Laub- 

 wald findet sich ausserhalb derselben regelmässig dort, wo die 

 edaphischen Verhältnisse dessen Entstehung ermöglichen, während 

 dagegen Nadelwald an vielen Stellen fehlt, wo er unter normalen 

 Verhältnissen auftreten müsste. 



Auf Grund erneuter Untersuchungen in den Stockholmer Schä- 

 ren ist Verf. nur bestärkt worden in der Auffassung, dass eine be- 

 trächtliche Anzahl meist südlicher und südöstlicher, xerothermer 

 Arten nur an solchen Inseln vorkommen, die schon während der 

 Bronzezeit aus dem Meere erhoben waren, bezw. über dem „Häga- 

 Niveau" liegen. Diese Artenverteilung setzt Verf. in Verbindung 

 mit einer Vermehrung der Niederschläge (stärkere Bewölkung und 

 infolgedessen herabgesetzte Transpiration) und einer Erniedrigung 

 der Lufttemperatur zu der Zeit, wo das Meer bei diesem Niveau 

 stand. Grevillius (Kempen a. Rh.). 



Drummond, T. C. and C. Funk. The chemical investiga- 

 tion of the phospho tun gs täte precipitate from rice- 

 polishings. (Biochem. Journ. VIII. p. 598—615. Dec. 1914.) 



The authors summarize the results of their exhaustive fructio- 

 nation of the phosphotungstic acid precipitate from an alcoholic 

 extract of rice-polishings as follows. In presence of considerable 

 amounts of choline and nicotinic acid in the polishings has been 

 again confirmed, while the presence of betaine, adenine, guanine 

 and possibly guanidine has been detected. 



The isolation of the curative substance (in cases of beriberi) in 

 the form of its picrate, as claimed to have been accomplished by 

 Suzuki, Shinamura and Odake, was not confirmed. 



Complete failure attended the attempt to isolate the curative 

 substance and its decomposition during fractination is regarded as 

 probable. W. Neilson Jones. 



Ewins, J., Acetylcholine; a new active principle of 

 Ergot. (Biochem. Journ. VIII. p. 44—49. Feb. 1914.) 



Effects, other than those of apparent therapeutic importance, 

 are shown in a more or less marked degree by all samples of 

 ergot. Conspicuous among these is an inhibitor effect on the heart, 

 with which a stimulant effect on intestinal muscle is closely asso- 

 ciated. This paper deals with the chemical procedure by which the 

 principle responsible for the above effects was isolated and identified. 



The crystalline platinichloride, isolated by the method set out 

 in detail in the paper, yielded a base extremely active in producing 

 the physiological effects noted above. The clue to its identity was 

 furnished by the Observation that it was very susceptible to the 

 action of alkali. This fact, and its constant association with choline, 

 suggested it might be a choline ester. 



Further physiological comparisons and analysis served to esta- 

 blish the identity of this base obtained from ergot with acetylcholine. 



W. Neilson Jones. 



