QUINIA. 265 



out of the body, viz. : That (3) a solution of albumen cannot 

 be converted into peptones in an atmosphere of ozone if 

 quinia be present. (4) Healthy pus and fresh vegetable juices 

 lose their ozonising power if mixed with quinia. (5) Phos- 

 phorescent infusoria (rapidly oxydating protoplasmic masses) 

 lose their phosphorescence in the presence of quinia. (6) Fungi 

 absorb oxygen less readily, and many forms of f ermentation are 

 arrested, in the presence of quinia. These facts indicate that 

 quinia so combines with living cellular protoplasm as to render it 

 less able to incorporate oxygen, and more resistant of vital 

 change (metabolism). Now we have already seen that the 

 oxygen actually in the corpuscles is bound more firmly to them 

 by quinia. We may therefore conclude that the effect of quinia 

 in the body is to check metabolism by interfering with oxygena- 

 tion, with the oxydation of protoplasm generally, and with the 

 associated action of ferments. Thus the fall of temperature 

 produced by quinia is due to diminished production of heat in 

 the body, not to increased loss of heat ; it is effected through 

 the tissues, not through the heat-regulating centre ; and the 

 fever-causing (pyrogenic) processes themselves (probably allied 

 to fermentations) are also controlled by the drug, which affects 

 their organic causes, whether living organisms or complex 

 chemical substances. 



An action such as this upon the processes of nutrition, 

 though it might escape the notice of an ignorant observer, is 

 more " powerful " even than the action of morphia upon a 

 highly sensitive nervous mechanism such as the convolutions. 



Turning to the other systems, we find that whilst small 

 doses of quinia accelerate the heart and raise the pressure, as we 

 saw when considering the stomachic effect, full doses slow and 

 weaken the heart and lower the pressure. These effects are due 

 to direct depression of the cardiac ganglia and muscle, and of 

 the vessel walls and their centre, not of the cardiac centre. 

 Respiration is accelerated by medium doses, depressed by large 

 doses ; and death, should it occur, is referable to respiratory and 

 cardiac failure. The spleen is reduced in size, and hardened. 



4. SPECIFIC USES. 



The uses of quinia, which have been mainly establishe<l In- 

 experience, are in accord with these physiological results. Its 

 specific action may be taken advantage of in the following 



1. Malaria is remarkably benefited by quinia, which is an 

 antiperiodic or direct specific, whether given to persons exposed 

 to the morbid influence as a prophylactic measure, or to the 

 subjects of ague. It acts best in fresh cases, the first dose of 



