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cliemical question, Dr. Spruyt took the matter in hand in the 

 Pathological Laboratory of Amstordam. In applying to nitramines 

 and nitrites the well known law of the relation between chemical 

 constitution and physiological action, which is best expressed in 

 this formula: "compounds of homologous chemical structure possess 

 homologous physiological action," we may conclude, that if nitra- 

 mine should belong really to the group of nitrites, its physiolo- 

 gical action must be also that of a nitriteeompound. The physiolo- 

 gical action of nitrites is a well known one. They are all toxic 

 substances. Dr. Spruyt considered it as a first step in his researches 

 to state the physiological effects common to all nitrites without 

 exception, to the nitrites as well derived from alcoholic radicals, 

 as to the simple alkali-nitrites. As such he found invariably: 



1*' the formation of methaemoglobiue out of the haemoglobine of 

 the blood in the living body as well as in the blood "in vitro"; 



2°<^^ dilatation of the arteriolae, and rapid sinking of the arterial 

 bloodpressure; 



S'"^ injurious effects on the intensity of the contraction of the 

 isolated frog's heart, as fast as the nitrites circulate with the blood 

 through it ; 



é^^ paralysis of the nervous system in frogs, convulsions in 

 mammalians. 



In experimenting on frogs and rabbits with methyluitramine- 

 natrium, dissolved in a physiological salt-solution. Dr. Spruyt never 

 found one of the essential phenomena, which are produced by 

 nitrites. The methyl-nitramine-natrium compound behaved itself in 

 the animal body and its liquids on the contrary as a fast indiffe- 

 rent substance. 



If we consider, that nitrite of amyle C^ H* — — N = is one 

 of the best known nitrites, with an eminent toxic action, in which 

 all the physiological effects of nitrites are represented in the most 

 typical way, and if we pay attention at the same time to the 

 remarkable fact, that Schadow in his study of the physiological 

 action of nitropentan, which is an isomeric compound of nitrite of 

 amyle never met with one of the essential phenomena, produced 

 in animals by nitrites, the conclusions, which Dr. Spkutt arrived 

 at, are easily conceived. These conclusions are : that the study of 

 the physiological action of methylnitramine makes highly probable 

 the opinion of Franchimont about its chemical structure (nitrogen 

 linked in a cyclical way), and is in direct contradiction with IIantscu's 

 hypothesis, that it should contain nitrogen linked to hydroxyle, and 

 belong to the nitrite-group. 



