526 PALM^.. 



Bombelon {Pharm. Joiirn, [3], xvi., 838) was tLe firsi to 

 announce that it contained a liquid volatile alkaloid, tlie 

 properties and composition of which, however, he did not 

 describe. As it seemed probable that the physiologically 



H 



Jahns was induced to investigate the subject more 

 (Berichfe, xxu, 3404). From his investigation it is clear that 

 an alkaloid areeoUnc is the most active constituent of the nut. 

 Its physiological action has been studied by Dr. Maum^ of 

 Gottingen [Tharm. Zeit., Feb. 9, 1889, p. 97), who used for 

 this purpose the hydrobromide and the hydrochloride, of 

 which subcutaneous or intravenous injections were made, or 

 sometimes the solution was applied to the conjunctiva. It 

 was found that full-grown rabbits died within a few minutes 

 after the subcutaneous injection of 25 to 50 milligrams, but 

 recovered after 10 milligrams. Cats succumbed after the 

 administration similarly of 1 to 20 milligrams, only the course 

 of the poisoning was somewhat more prolonged. Dogs, even 

 small animals of 5 to 6 kilograms body-weight, although 

 strongly poisoned by the subcutaneous injection of 50 to 55 

 milligrams, were not always killed. 



The symptoms of poisoning which were observed corre- 



sponded 



Schmiedeberg in 



his investigation of muscarine, and further, when lethal doses 



means 



sulphate; eventually, however, they presented characteristic 

 differences. The most dangerous action of arecoHne consists 

 m the slowing of the heart's action by small doses, or even its 

 stoppage, just as takes place with muscarine ; but the latter 

 ^orks in smaller doses, and it is only after somewhat larger 

 doses of arecoline that the ventricle of the frog stops in diastole, 

 or is so influenced that it is not emptied, and only after long 

 intervals makes a weak undulatory muscular contraction. 

 Subsequent injection of atropine removes this action upon the 

 heart. Simultaneously with 

 is also affected. Small doses cause a considerable increase in 



the 



number 



