316 TRANSACTIONS AXD PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lis. 



whin an alkaloid Ulexine (the bark and the young tops 

 also contain it, but in less quantity). The physiological 

 action of Ulexine is interesting, as it may afford the key 

 to the L. sativics poison, and therefore I give a few details 

 of experiments made by Dr. Bradford, and reported in the 

 "Journal of Physiology." A very minute quantity of the 

 alkaloid was injected into the dorsal lymph space of a frog, 

 and in five minutes respiratory movements had ceased. 

 There was complete paralysis of all voluntary movement. 

 The muscles, on being stimulated with electricity, directly 

 responded, but the strongest currents applied to the sciatic 

 nerve failed to produce any contraction of leg muscles. 

 The alkaloid was thus shown to be a nerve poison, and 

 administered in larger doses proved a muscle poison as 

 well Further experiments, with such mammals as dogs 

 and cats, again showed this Ulexine to be a powerful 

 respiratory poison, e.f/., 3 mgrs. to a chloroformed cat killed 

 the cat with convulsions in three minutes. The cat could 

 be kept alive as long as artificial respiration was kept up. 



It is now admitted, without dispute, that this Ulexine 

 is identical with the alkaloid Cytisine that has been isolated 

 from laburnum seeds, and which has been detected as 

 present in cases of poisoning by Cytisus Lahiirnum. As 

 in the gorse, this alkaloid is not confined to the seeds, 

 but its presence has been demonstrated in the bark, 

 leaves, and flowers, and in this connection it is interesting 

 to find record of a case of poisoning of a family of seven 

 persons who had eaten the flowers of the laburnum in 

 mistake for those of the locust tree, another leguminous 

 tree. The eft'ects of eating the laburnum flowers were 

 giddiness, accelerated respiration, and vomiting. Xo 

 asphyxia showed itself, and the patients soon recovered. 



Cases of laburnum poisoning are not uncommon among 

 childi-en, and cattle and pigs have been known to suffer 

 after browsing on it. 



I may add a ver}' curious case of narcotic poisoning due 

 to eating laburnum roots. Fifty-eight boys in an industrial 

 school chewed the roots of an old laburnum tree cut the 

 day before, mistaking it for " liquorice-stick." Soon many 

 showed the symptoms of narcotic poisoning, viz., sleepiness, 

 stupor, and staggering about. On emetics being given, 



