74 Chittenden and Painter—Influence of Therapeutic 
Atropine sulphate. 
With this alkaloid we obtained the following results: 
Alkaloid salt. Wt. Cu in 4. PCIE DEICR, Cohveie 
0 071485 gram. 0°3028 gram. 27°25 per cent. 
0°025 per cent. 0°1460 0:2976 26°78 
07050 0°1410 0°2872 25°62 
0°200 0°1530 0°3124 28°11 
0°500 0°1407 0°2864 25°77 
1-000 0°1475 0°3004 27°03 
2°000 0°1245 0°2532 22°78 
The main action of the smaller percentages of this alkaloid seems 
to be a slightly hindering one, although there are one or two irregu- 
larities in the results which are not readily explainable. In the 
presence of 2°0 per cent. of atropine sulphate there is a decided 
diminution in amylolytic action. 
In connection with this alkaloid we have to note some recent ex- 
periments of Stolnikow* of St. Petersburg. This investigator, pro- 
ducing artificial fever in dogs by the injection of putrid matter into 
the blood found, first, that the salivary and pancreatic secretions 
were for a time increased in amount and then rapidly diminished and 
finally entirely ceased. This latter action of the septic poison, 
Stolnikow found to be very persistent and he moreover states that 
in physiological action the septic poison resembles atropine. Fur- 
thermore that artificial fever, produced as described, exercises a 
decided influence on the content of ferments in the pancreatic 
gland; that in fevers of short duration (2-10 hours) the ex- 
tract of this gland has a more energetic ferment action than the 
normal extract, while in fevers of long duration the corresponding 
extract has a much weaker action. Overlooking now the physiologi- 
cal explanation suggested for these facts we come to the chemical 
one, viz: that the septic poison possibly exerts either a destructive 
or hindering influence on the ferment or its action. In support of 
this view, Stolnikow found that large quantities of the poison did 
weaken the amylolytic and proteolytic action of extracts from the 
pancreatic gland, although small quantities of the septic ferment 
were without action. Likewise, Stolnikow states that small quanti- 
ties of atropine sulphate are without action on a glycerine extract 
of the pancreas, but by adding to 10 c. c. of a glycerine extract, 
5 ¢.¢. of a 3°0 per cent. atropine sulphate solution and allowing the 
mixture to stand at the ordinary temperature for 10 hours, then on 
* Beitrage zur Lehre von der Function des Pancreas im Fieber. Virchow’s Archiv, 
vol, xe, p. 389, 1882, 
