ACTION OF A LAUGE DOSE ON MAMMALS. 483 



From the small quantity of bark at our disposal, we have not 

 attempted to isolate any active principle, as we feared our sup- 

 ply would not be more than sufficient for the investigation of 

 its physiological action. 



Professor Liebreich, however, has lately succeeded in separat- 

 ing a crystalline substance, which is exceedingly poisonous. 



General Action. — Its action on the lower animals has been 

 investigated by Santos and Liebreich. The former found that a 

 decoction of the bark caused alternate dilatation and contrac- 

 tion of the pupils, appearance of delirium, violent retching, 

 vomiting, symptoms of tetanus, and, finally, death. The crys- 

 talline principle obtained from the bark by Liebreich caused 

 vomiting and sudden death, without previous loss of conscious- 

 ness. Death is attributed by him to paralysis of the heart. 



In our own experiments on dogs and cats we have observed 

 vomiting, weakness, and death during a convulsion from the 

 effects of the drug, whether introduced into the stomach or in- 

 jected under the skin, into the peritoneal cavity, or into the 

 veins. 



Gexi:iial Action on Mammals. 



Action on Cats. 



Experiment I. — February 23. 



Effects of a very Large Dose. 



Four and a half c.c. of a saturated alcoholic sohition of Casca* 

 were injected into the abdominal cavity of a halt-grown kitten 

 weighing 746 grammes. At three minutes after the injection 

 it began to walk stiffly, and a peculiar jerk occurred in the hind 

 legs each time they were lifted. Respiration GO. At 5 minutes 

 after injection it seemed giddy, and rolled over on trying to 

 walk. Faeces were passed. Eespirations 80, gasping. At ten 

 niinutes it was lying on its side with its mouth wide open ; 

 respirations 120. At 10 minutes 30 seconds the respirations 

 were 160, gasping. At 11 minutes it made feeble and unsuc- 



* This solution was prepared by ext acting the bark with alcohol and evapo- 

 rating to dryness. The solid extract thus obtained was dissolved in warm 

 nlcohol in sucli quantity tliat on cooling a deposit occurred. The solution was 

 then filtered and the filtrate employed fo;* experiments. 



2 I 2 



