GRAMINEM 585 



The still more recent experiments of Wittstein have con- 

 vinced him " that the poisonous characters of the seeds are not 

 due to an acid body, nor to a hase, but to an indifferent body 

 which is incapable of forming compounds with lead or zinc, 

 and may be completely extracted from the seeds by water or 

 alcohol, and only incompletely by ether." 



Dr. P. Antze, who has recently examined the constituents of 

 the plant, both chemically and physiologically, reports {Arch, 

 f. €xp. Path, imd Pharm., Nov. 1890, p. 126) the isolation of a 

 volatile alkaloid, hliine, and temukntic acid, which by the action 

 of lime yields a base, femukntine, as a decomposition product, 

 loliine is said to yield good crystalline salts with sulphuric, 

 hydrochloric, oxalic, and acetic acids, but too small a quantity 

 was obtained for analysis. Injected subcutaneously into 

 rabbits it produced a rise in temperature as well as an increase 

 of the pulse, O'OS gram being a lethal dose, whilst the narcotic 

 and intoxicating action of the lolium plant seems to be due to 

 temuleutic acid and the base obtained from it. The acid, 

 which exists to the extent of about 1 per cent, in the seeds, is 

 obtained in crystals melting at 234°G. and possessing the 

 approximate composition C'H^'KO'^ and as well as temulcntine 

 yields good crystalline salts. From experiments upon frogs, 

 rabbits, and the investigator himself, it appears to be twice tis 

 toxic as loliine and rapidly diminishes the heart's action, but if 

 the depression, which is accompanied by a marked decrease in 

 temperature, is overcome, the patient assumes a condition of 

 bigh fever. Br. Antze recommends, in cases of poisoning with 

 darnel grass, the administration of emetics and purges, foUowed 

 stimulants to raise the depressed action of the heart. 

 (Pharm. Journ., Jan. 31st, 1891.) 



Toxicology .—TlhQ symptoms which darnel seeds produce on 

 man are described by Pereira as twofold : " those indicating 

 gastro -intestinal irritation, such as vomiting and colic ; and 

 those which arise from disorder of the cerebro-spinal system, 

 such as headache, giddiness, languor, ringing in the ears, 

 confusion of sight, dilated pupil, delirium, heaviness, somno- 

 lency, trembling, convulsions, and paralysis. These seeds, 



