A462. LOGANIACEH#. 
quent éxperiments conducted by Dr. Schweissinger showed 
that the German official preparations varied considerably in 
strength, he therefore proposed that the strength of the tinc- 
ture should be fixed at 0°2 per cent. of alkaloid; and that of the | 
extract at 15 per cent., which would practically agree with the’ 
standards adopted in the new British Pharmacopeia. It musé 
be borne in mind, however, that the tineture and extract of 
pux-vomica contain brucine and other constituents, and that’ 
therefore its medicinal action may differ from that of strych- 
nine ; indeed they are considered by some to be more efficient’ 
than ‘that alkaloid in atonic dyspepsia. 
| H. Beckurts | (Arch. der Pharm., 1890, 330-347) ‘remarks - 
that if the physiological action of strychine and brucine is as 
given:by Falck 1: 88-5, then little is accomplished by a total 
alkaloid’ determination; it would be more to the point to 
require: a fixed percentage of strychnine and disregard the 
brucine (of which an equal quantity could always be assumed). 
An extract with fixed strychnine percentage and a brucine per 
centage varying within 1°8 per cent. is undoubtedly more 
Zeliable than an extract containing a fixed quantity of total 
alkaloid: in which | the strychnine pieces might vary 1°8 per 
Sent. 
ese apabts obtained the following atkaloutel bitten lasses from. 
fine ‘samples of nux-vomica :—Bombay, 2 samples, 2°33 and 
2°30 per. cent. ; “Malabar, 1 sample, 2°66 per cent. ; Cochin, 3 
damples, 9°51, 2°41 and 2°81 per cent. ; Madras, 2 samples; 
3°42 and 1°53 per cent. ; Calcutta, 1 sample, 2°40 per cent: In 
es of ten determinations made, assuming strychnine atid 
to be present in equal proportion, the yield of ghisee 
‘nine ated between 2°17 and 2°38 per cent. 
* Physiological action. - aaNORICK: affects animals very un= 
‘Stadio d by it, but there is 
‘a considerable difference of opinion regarding its physiological 
action ‘upon plate and fish. The frog is affected with teta- 
‘nic spasmsif 2 jaw Of 2 grain of strychnine in solution is applied to: 
ita back, pean dried so as-to impede theelimination ofthe 7 
