and Inorganic Substances on Gas Metabolism. 499 
ical action. In this connection, the action of quinine on proteid 
metabolism has been very thoroughly investigated, but as to its exact 
influence on the decomposition of non-nitrogenous matter, as shown 
by its effects on the elimination of carbonic acid, there is less una- 
nimity of opinion. This is naturally a point of considerable import- 
ance for if, as is generally supposed, the alkaloid has the power of 
diminishing body temperature, it would presumably be due to its in- 
fluence on the combustion of non-nitrogenous matter in the body. 
Ranke, Kerner, von Boeck and others have plainly shown the power 
of quinine to diminish proteid metabolism, but Strassburg, by an 
elaborate series of experiments* found that the alkaloid had no very 
decided effect upon the elimination of carbonic acid, either in healthy 
or fevered rabbits. 
Boeck and Bauer,+ however, from experiments on cats, claim that 
quinine in the first stage of its action diminishes somewhat the pro- 
duction of carbonic acid, owing to its inhibitory action on the tissue 
cells; but when large doses of quinine are given, so that con- 
vulsions appear, then there is an increased production of carbonic 
acid, owing to the greater decomposition of non-nitrogenous matter 
incident to increased muscular activity. With small doses of the 
alkaloid, it is to be presumed that the slight diminution in carbonic 
acid noticed by Boeck and Bauer comes simply from diminished 
proteid metabolism. 
In our experiments, rabbits only were used and these in a con- 
dition of hunger, having been deprived of food for three days prior 
to the experiment. In the first series of experiments, the total 
amount of quinine given was quite large, so that at last the animal 
finally died from its effects. No decided action on the production of 
carbonic acid was noticed until just before the animal’s death, 
when both the body temperature and the amount of carbonic acid 
fell quite noticeably. On the second day of the experiment, when 
the quinine was first being given, the body temperature, as taken per 
rectum, fell quite gradually until it finally reached a point 1°5 °C. 
below the average of the normal period. The results of the experi- 
ment are to be seen in the accompanying tables. The quinine given 
was in the form of hard, gelatin-coated pills and possibly was not as 
rapidly absorbed as might otherwise have been. At no time was the 
rabbit in convulsions. 
* Quoted from Dr. H. C. Wood, Therapeutics, p. 75. 
+ Zeitschrift fir Biologie, Band x, p. 350. 
