16G APPENDIX. 



poisons. In dogs the physiological action of lobcline Is first manifest- 

 ed by a paralysis of the voluntary movements and by a concomitant 

 exaggeration of the reflexes. Later these effects are complicated by 

 a paralysis of the motor nerves, analogous to that produced by cnrare. 

 Tlirongh its paralyzing action on the cardiac branch of the pnenmo- 

 gastric, lobeline resembles in its actiou the nicotine group. In warm- 

 blooded animals the influence of lobeline is found in a great exalta- 

 tion of the respiratory activity. It produces an acceleration of the 

 respiratory movement, which is more persistent when the pneumo- 

 gastric nerves are intact than when they have been divided. Further, 

 the amplitude of the respiratory movements is increased, and the 

 power of the respiratory muscles appears to be also augmented. 

 Under the influence of comparatively small doses of lobeline, the in- 

 hibitory influence of the pneumogastric on the heart, as well as its 

 action on the 'bronchial muscles, is suppressed. The respiratoiy 

 muscles appear to receive especial stimulation from the respiratory 

 centre when the latter is under the influence of lobeline ; as a result, 

 the work accomplished by the heart and respiratory muscles is great- 

 ly augmented. In comparison with the other agents which stimulate 

 the respiratory functions, lobeline possesses the advantage over hydro- 

 cyanic acid in its freedom from depressing action, w^hile it surpasses 

 aspidospcrmine in energy. It therefore seems evident that the 

 employment of lobeline as an anti- asthmatic is substantiated by experi- 

 mental facts, though the author has not made any clinical experi- 

 ments and offers no suggestions as to the proper form of employment 

 of this alkaloid. {Archiv,fur Exjwrimentelle PatJiologie tmd Pkarma- 



cologie^ 26 Band, Heft 3 und 4.) 



H. Paschkis and A. Smita {Akademie d. Wissm.^ Wicn^ April 17? 

 1890, through Cheyn. ZeiL, 1890, 594) use the following method for 

 preparing lobeline : The herb of Lobelia ivjtata is extracted with 

 water, acidified with acetic acid, the extract partly evaporated, made 

 alkaline and extracted with ether. An extract was taken up with 

 water and being acid was made alkaline and shaken with other* 



The 



oil 



of a yellow colour. For purifying, the alkaloid wag dissolved in 

 ether, shaken with water acidulated with hydrochloric acid, then 

 made alkaline and taken up with ether. This was repeated tliree 

 times, the ethereal solution then dn*ed with potass 



um 



dis 



The free alkaloid 



