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the water bath or even in vacuo, the residue is darker in colour, 

 and partly insoluble in water, but if the solution be made alkaline 

 and again extracted with ether, the yellow residue is a^ain 

 obtained on evaporation. A solution of this substance is 

 intensely poisonous, but possesses physiological properties very 

 different from those of picro toxin. Injected into the dorsal 

 lymph-sac of a frog in a large dose it produced complete 

 paralysis and speedy death without convulsions. 



No definite satisfactory results could be obtained with the 

 substance referred to above, as partially precipitated from the 

 caustic soda solution or addition of sodium bicarbonate ; but it 

 appeared to possess poisonous properties. 



We forwarded a small quantity of the solution of the yellow- 

 alkaloid to Dr. Bancroft, who sent us the following account of 

 its effects : — " This substance was intensely poisonous, and pro- 

 duced death in a frog in quite a different manner from the 

 ' Stephania ' extract, or from picrotoxin. There was excessive 

 vomiting at first, then extreme irritability, so that the slightest 

 touch produced exaggerated movements. The reflex excitability 

 of the spinal chord was increased quite as much, or more perhaps, 

 than by strychnine, yet there were no tetanic convulsions pro- 

 duced. Nevertheless there were what might be termed moderate 

 convulsions. I suppose if the dose were very great death would 

 occur without convulsions, yet it would be hardly right to say 

 there were no convulsions, if less then a lethal dose be given. 

 There are some remarkable phenomena connected with the respira- 

 tion, leading one to think the substance was a respirating stimul- 

 ant. It seems to have no bad effect on the heart." 



Perhaps in the future we may be able to do more towards the 

 investigation of these substances, but at present the material is 

 exhausted and time is wanting. 



I 



