STRENGTH OF DIGITALINE. 37 



fat or digitaloin in white crystalline scales, which melt to an oil 

 at a gentle heat, and digitaloic acid in white nacreous laminae. 

 The residue left by the ether, and wliich constitutes commercial 

 dimtaline, consists of two substances: one of which is much 

 more readily soluble in water than the other. This soluble 

 part is yellowish and amorphous, soluble in 120 parts of cold 

 and 40 of boiling water ; is said by Walz to be the active 

 principle, and is called by him digitaline ; others call it digita- 

 solin. The insoluble residue is called by him digitaletin, but 

 others called it digitaline. It is still doubtful if, all these bodies 

 are really distinct or have been obtained quite pure, but Walz's 

 analyses and formulas agree well. Kossman has given the 

 name digitalic acid to an acid in digitalis, and also to a product 

 of boiling digitaline with soda, lye, or lime. 



The name of the active principle has been spelt by Homolk 

 as digitaline with a final e, and by English writers indifferently 

 as digitalin* and digitaline.t It is to be regretted that Homolle 

 gave such similar names to different bodies, and also that other 

 chemists have given different names to the same body, as for 

 example, Walz, who calls the pure active principle digitaletin. 

 I have retained Homolle's orthography. 



That digitaline is the active principle, or at least contains 

 it, has been shown by the physiological experiments and 

 clinical experience of various observers, among whom may be 

 mentioned Messrs. Hervieux, Shohl, Sandras, Bouillaud, Andral, 

 and Lemaishe, Corvisart, Laroche, Duroziez, and Mandl, who 

 have found that it produced the same effects as the plant itself, 

 both as a poison and a medicine. 



Digitaline is estimated by Homolle and Quevenne as being 

 100 times as strong as the leaves of the plant ; but Stadian 

 reckons it as only 30 times as strong, and from the trialsJ 

 made on myself I am inclined rather to agree with the latter 

 estimate. In order to determine whethei there was no other 

 diuretic principle in digitalis, on account of' which it might be 

 preferable to administer the plant itself, or: one of its pharma- 

 ceutical preparations,! M. ■ Homolle made experiments on the 



* Brit. Fharm. f Garrod, Mai. Med. 



X Arch, Gen., 5 ser., vol. xviii, p. 5, July, 1861 {vide. Sydenham Socieft/ Year 

 £ock, lSei,ip. 434). 



