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loids. No alkaloidal preparations were made for animal experiments! 

 A larger portion of the plant which had been dried was extracte 

 with alcohol by percolation. The alcohol was then removed, and th 

 remaining sirup was evaporated to dryness and extracted repeatedljj 

 with boiling water. The aqueous extract so obtained was clear and oJ 

 a dark-brown color. It had a very sweet taste with a slightly bittei 

 after-taste. The residue from this extraction was a black resinoi 

 mass. 



The aqueous extract and black residue were administered to a guim 

 pig by mouth. The amounts given corresponded to 5 grams of th< 

 dried plant in each case. The aqueous extract proved to be nontoxi( 

 the animal remaining normal, but the black residue was fatal in thre^ 

 hours. The symptoms exhibited by this animal were the same as the 

 shown by the one to which was given the benzol extract. Apparently 

 then, the active material of Asclepias Mexicana differs from that foum 

 in Asclepias galioides by Marsh, Clawson, Couch, and Eggleston h 

 that the substance producing narcosis found by them in Asclepia\ 

 galioides is lacking in this plant. It is possible, however, that witl 

 doses representing larger quantities of the plant the narcotic effec] 

 might be present and more noticeable. 



