( 690 ) 
be dissolved in 10°/, KOH, from which it can be precipitated again 
with acids. Together with water the alcoholic solution gives an 
emulsion, in which microscopical amorphous particles and masses 
are to be seen. The formula is C,, H,, O,,; glucoside-properties are 
not present. Van Srttmvorpr has also made experiments on fishes 
and found as follows: Minnows (Gasterosteus pungitius) died in a 
dilution 1:6.000.000 within 30 min., after a period of great agitation, 
followed by intoxication. Frogs, subeutaneously injected with 3 m.g. 
derrid were quite paralysed after 24 hours, without convulsions 
having manifested themselves. I shall now mention my own experiments. 
N Effect of derrid on fishes. 
Minnows (Gasterosteus pungitius) were put in the following fluids: 
In 1 L. of water, to which was added 10 ce. standard solution (derrid 
10 m.g.; alcohol abs. 5 cc.; water 95 cc), which corresponds with 
a dilution of 1:1,000.000. As soon as a fish came into the 
water, it went down to the bottom of the glass, remained motionless 
there for some moments, soon became agitated and swam quickly 
to and fro, up and down; its gill-flaps opened wide and moved 
rapidly, much more rapidly and intensely than with the “normal 
fish” (one that had been placed in an equal quantity of water with 
alcohol). The tish showed violent dyspnoea, jumped out of the 
water after 6 min., fell continually on its side and soon lost its 
balance altogether; tumbling round and round it sank down to the 
bottom, where it remained; then it shot up to the surface again as 
swift as an arrow, only to come down again soon after that. After 
15 min. it was lying on its side at the bottom of the glass, in 
violent dyspnoea; once again it swam rapidly to the surface, but 
soon after it was lying again at the bottom, with limp fins and 
quite unconscious, After 20 min. its respiration became irregular, 
less and less frequent and after 28 min. it ceased altogether. 
The same experiment was made with dilutions 1: 2.500.000 ; 
4 : 5.000.000 down to 1:10.000.000, the latter being lethal within 
27 hours. In the strong dilutions the symptoms did not manifest 
themselves until very late; then suddenly intoxication followed and 
soon after this death. | 
The “normal-fish” seemed in good health. It further appeared that, 
as soon as the first symptoms of agitation had clearly manifested 
themselves, the fish could not be saved if put in fresh water. 
From these experiments it appears that an effect ou the central 
nervous system seems very probable and specially on the respiratory- 
centre. 
