440 THE CHEMICAL EXAIIIXATIOX OF IIACROZAJIIA SPINALIS, 



These various portions were divided into small amounts for feeding purposes, 

 to last about two weeks. Each portion, mixed as before with about 10 gms. of 

 bread or biscuit, was fed to a rat. Water also was given in each case. 



All these extracts were readily and completely eaten. The rats apparently 

 enjoyed the rations- and remained throughout the period of two to three weeks 

 very active and well. These experiments show that nothing of the nature of 

 Lauterer's poisonous resins was jircsent. 



(iii.) With the aqueous extract of tlie nuts. — About 1 kiln, of the seeds was 

 made intj a pulp, and extracted with 2 litres of water and 1 cc. of toluene. 

 After 3 days, with frequent stirring, it was filtered through cloth into a tall 

 cylinder, to allow the gi'eater portion of the starch to deposit. 



The solution thus obtained was given to two rats, the ration for each being 

 made up of 30 ces. of the fluid, with bread and biscuit soaked in it. This was 

 given daily for 22 days, at the end of which period the two rats appeared quite 

 normal and active. 



The supposed poisonous principle said to be removed fi'om the nuts by wash- 

 ing with water, and which would have been in the above solution, was not found 

 in these experiments 



(iv.) With the fresh nuts. — Nuts were fed to two rats, with no other food, but 

 with plenty of water. Both animals died of impaction within three days, and no 

 other abnormal s_\Tuptoms were detected. 



In the historical record given above (p. 425), it will be noticed that animals 

 were affected in two different ways. (1) Symptoms were rapidly manifested with- 

 in the first three or four days after eating the Macrozamia. The animals became 

 slow in their movements, dragged the hind limbs, and finally died of impaction. 

 This condition would include the gastro-enteritis mentioned l)y certain authoi's. 

 (2) Symptoms wei'c gradually produced after three or four weeks' feeding-. 'I'he 

 condition was entirely different from the fonner, and was said to produce peri- 

 pheral neuritis, and partial paralysis, etc. The animals, though incurable, might 

 live on if cared for. but if not, they usually died of starvation. 



The results of the experiments with the white rats were positive for the 

 former, but entirely negative for the latter condition. 



The symptoms rie-scribed for the real Jilacrozamia poisoning are characterised 

 by the slow onset of the disease, but when fully established, the disease has not 

 been associated with any very definite pathological changes. These symjitoms, in 

 a general sense, have also been observed after animals lia\e fed for long jieriods 

 on certain other plants, for example, the Grasstrees, the Darling Peas, Lnthiinis, 

 Loco weeds, etc., and in none of these has any active poisonous chemical compound 

 been identified. 



This cliemical investigation has shown that the Macrozamia contains no active 

 poisonous principle which could be isolated or identified, or any indiridual con- 

 stituent which could be a.ssociated with the disea.se. 



Summjusy. 



Macrozamia spiralis, which grows abundantly along the East Coast of New 

 South Wales, has been regai'ded as a poisonous plant from the earliest days of 

 the Colony. 



A complete summary of its poisonous record is given. 



The chemical composition of its leaves is eharaeterised by a large amount of 

 amorphous resins. 



