132 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. — SUB-SECTION, PHARMACY. 



and after distillation the product was assayed without undue exposure, 

 and also, after exposure in an open vessel for one hour, at a temperature 

 of 19*3° C, with the following results : — 



Weight. Voiuine of No. 



Without undue exposure .. 3*048 grams .. 29'9c.c. 



100 grams .. 981 'Occ. 



After one hour exposure .. 4*16 grams .. 13*1 c.c. 



100 grams .. 315-0 c.c. 



In another sample, in which the distillate was received into glycerin 

 alone, the loss was found to be much less after exposure for one hour 

 in an open vessel — 



Weight. Volume of No. 



Without undue exposure .. 2*63 grams ,. 18*2 c.c. 



100 grams .. 692*0 c.c. 



After one hour exposure .. 4*16 grams .. 19*5 c.c. 



100 grams .. 424*2 c.c. 



The increased viscosity of this sample might be regarded as objec- 

 tionable, especially in the climate of the British Isles. 



These preparations were made on 19th June last. On 2nd Decem- 

 ber, when the temperature was 30*5° C, another assay Avas made, and 

 it was found that the solutions had kept admirably. 



In conclusion I would strongly recommend the compilers of the 

 forthcoming edition of the British Phannacopceia to adopt a mixture 

 of 90 per cent, alcohol and glycerin in equal volumes as a solvent for 

 all preparations of ethyl nitrite. 



4.— ERGOT AND ITS ACTIVE PRINCIPLES. 



By H. H. Dale, M.A., M.D., Director of the Wellcome Physiological 

 Research Laboratories, Heme Hill, London, England. 



(Communicated by R. C. Cowley.) 



Although ergot has long been established as one of the most 

 valuable drugs at the disposal of the physician, its pharmacology 

 remained, until the last few years, in a state of uncertainty and 

 confusion. 



Several causes contributed to this unsatisfactory result. In the 

 first place the systematic position of ergot, as a fungus, rendered the 

 chemical isolation of its active constituents a matter of peculiar 

 difficulty. The search was further complicated by the fact that the 

 most diverse opinions prevailed as to the type of physiological action 

 which should be regarded as characteristic of a principle to which the 

 therapeutic effect of ergot could be attributed. To some extent 



