BY .t. M. PETRI E. I2l 



Drs. Ringer and Murrell(23), working with (Jerrartrs alkaloid, 

 made careful experiments un its pliysiological action. They ob- 

 served dilatation of the eye, the action on the skin in arresting 

 perspiration, headache and drowsiness, the antagonism to 

 muscarine, and the production of tetanus in frogs. The authors 

 concluded, from both physiological and chemical evidence, that 

 the alkaloid was not atropine. 



Paul (24), in 1878, further examined the alkaloid prepared by 

 Gerrard, and confirmed the latter's results. 



vii. Petit, of Paris (11), in 1879, identified the alkaloid of 

 pituri as nicotine, and also prepared the alkaloid of D. inyopo- 

 roides from an aqueous extract of the haves. In a letter to 

 Holmes, which is included in Paul's paper, Petit pointed out the 

 differences from atropine. 



In the Lancet for 1879, eight cases of poisoning from the use 

 of duboisia were described by Davidson (25); the symptoms were 

 giddiness and delirium. Tweedie ascribed the cause to impuri- 

 ties, but he afterwards found that his own pure solutions, which 

 he had used with Dr. Ringer, produced the same toxic symptoms. 



Dr. Norris(26) found the therapeutic action similar to atropine, 

 but more energetic. Ringer (27) also described the action as far 

 more powerful than atiopine. 



viii. Baron von Mueller and Runnnel(28), in January, 1879, 

 described their preparation and the properties of " Duboisine,'' 

 the alkaloid of D. tuyojjoruides. They state that the alkaloid 

 was prepared like nicotine from the leaves and tN\ igs, that it was 

 a volatile, yellow, oily liquid, lighter than water, having a strong 

 odour of tobacco and cantharides, and probably identical with 

 "piturine" from D. Hopwoodii. The reaction was strongly 

 alkaline. 



In another paper, dated KSeptember, 1879, the above account 

 is confirmed (29). Von Mueller says: ''Piturine is in some 

 respects allied to nicotine, but more closely akin to duboisine (of 

 D. mijoporoides), the latter being lighter in colour, of bitter, not 

 acrid, taste, and of fainter odour." 



