■ 128 PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION B. 



been prepared. It dissolves to a dark brown solution in hot water^ 

 recrystallizing- on cooling. Melts at 116'^-118° C, turns pink on ex- 

 posure to light, and gives the characteristic reactions with alkaloid 

 reagents. 



The above, and other basic organic bodies present in quantity in 

 the alcoholic extract of the bark, will be the subjects of future in- 

 vestigation. 



Professor Malcolm suggests that the predominance of the 

 strychnine-like actions points to the nitrogen being in the trivaleiit 

 form in the molecule. 



Eeport on the Physiological Action of Pukatbine, by Professor 

 Malcolm, of the University op Otago, Dunedin. 



" The following is a short account of my investigation into the 

 action of the new alkaloid Pukateine : — 



" The base itself is apparently inactive owing to its insolubility ; 

 the hydrochloride is soluble in water and has a mild toxic action. 



" There are two groups of symptoms produced by alkaloids in 

 general : (1.) Convulsions due to excitation of the nen^e cells of the 

 spinal cord. (2.) Loss of the power of movement due to paralysis of 

 the terminations of motor nerves in muscle. In some alkaloids, of 

 which strychnine is the chief type, the first set of symptoms is the 

 more pronounced. In others, e.g. curare, the second set is prer 

 dominant, but by appropriate means it can be shown that all alkaloids 

 can produce both groups of symptoms, though in vaiying degrees of 

 prominence. 



" Witli jnikateine hydrochloride the first set of sjmiptoms is the 

 more marked ; a frog- into which some of the drug has been injected 

 becomes, in an hour or less, so affected that the least tap on the 

 table calls forth a reflex spasm of the whole body. With strychnine 

 itself the spasms last an appreciable interval of time, and are suc- 

 ceeded by separate (clonic) twitches. But in most cases pukateine 

 hydrochloride causes a brief spasm of the muscles of the whole body, 

 resulting in a momentary rigidity whicli is not followed by any further 

 contractions. The curious nature of these spasms seems, from the 

 result of one experiment, to be due to a failure on the part of the 

 iiiuscle to respond to a succession of stimuli. When an ordinary 

 muscle is stimulated by a series of electric shocks it remains con- 

 tracted for several minutes ; but in this case the muscle gives a short 

 contraction lasting about one second and gives no further response to 

 the stimulation. 



" Following the stage of increased excitability comes a stage in 

 which there is no response on touching the skin of the frog. This is 

 at first localised so that the fore limbs, back, or hind limbs may 

 appear to be quite anaesthetic, while a general spasm may be elicited 

 by touching other parts of the skin. This stage may he due to a 

 local anaesthetic action analogous to the numbing sensation felt on 

 application of the alkaloid to the tongue, but is more probably due to 

 some action on the spinal cord. 



" The paralysis of the nerve endings, corresponding to the second 

 set of symptoms of alkaloidal action in general, is also caused by 

 pukateine hydrochloride. 



