trat;sactions of section i. 827 



occur. That iustaiice was the cerebro-spinal fluid from the case of cortical 

 htt'iuorrhage, au acute case with no naked-eye wasting of the brain substance. 



(o) The cerebro-spinal fluid was boiled and filtered, and the filtrate gave the 

 same result. It could not, therefore, be due to proteid. 



(4) The cerebro-spinal fluid was mixed with several times its volume of 

 alcohol, by which all proteids and proteoses would be precipitated. It was 

 filtered, and the filtrate dried at a temperature of about 40° C, and the residue 

 dissolved in saline solution. This, when injected, gave a similar fall in the blood- 

 pressure. 



(5) Solution of neurine hydrochloride 0-1 per cent, solution. 2-5 c.c. gave a 

 similar fall ; but in most instances this was followed by a return to or even above 

 tlie original pressure and then a second fall ' which persisted to some extent, a 

 condition we never observed with the cerebro-spinal fluid. This result is similar 

 to that previously obtained by Schiifer and Oliver. Stronger doses produce marked 

 slowing of the heart, and slowing and deepening of the respiration. The fatal dose 

 is less than a decigramme, respiration ceasing before the heart. 



(G) Solution of choline hydrochloride 0'2 per cent, solution. 5 c.c. gave a 

 result identical as far as we could observe with tliat obtained by the pathological 

 cerebro-spinal fluids. With stronger doses there is slowing of the heart. 



(7) The blood obtained from patients snflering from pseudo-apoplectiform con- 

 vulsions of general paralysis obtained by venesection was mixed with several times 

 its volume of absolute alcohol, filtered, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness at 

 about 40° C. The residue was dissolved in saline solution and a (][uantity was 

 injected corresponding to 50 c.c. of the original blood in each case. The result 

 obtained corresponded entirely with that obtained with the pathological cerebro- 

 spinal fluids and with solution of choUiie. Normal blood similarly treated gave a 

 negative result. 



It may be added that section of the vagi has no influence on the fall of blood- 

 jn-essure produced by the injection. 



The substance in the pathological cerebro-spinal fluid which produces the efiect 

 is precipitable by phosphotungstic acid ; it is therefore probably alkaloidal in 

 nature. Normal cerebro-spinal fluid after removal of the proteid gives no precipi- 

 tate with phosphotungstic acid. The pathological cerebro-spinal fluids we have 

 examined are rich in coagulable proteid, contain no proteose or peptone, and are- 

 usually free from reducing substance. The reducing substance of the normal fluid 

 was considered by one of us ';o be allied to or identical with pyrocatechin. In 

 small doses pyrocatechin produces no effect on blood-pressure ;• in large doses it causes 

 a very slight fall. 



The disintegration of the nerve-cells of the brain in the cases from which the 

 fluid was obtained can be demonstrated best by Nissl's method. 



We have also taken tracings of blood-pressure simultaneously with plethysmo- 

 graphic tracings of the limbs, and of the kidney, an air oncometer being used in 

 connection with the latter organ. There is no peripheral dilatation of the blood- 

 vessels. That the fall of blood-pressure is cardiac in origin was confirmed by 

 experiments on the frog's and mammal's heart. This conclusion fits in very weil 

 with what is found in general paralysis of the insane ; cardiac weakness and 

 enfeebled circulation are commonly observed : and fatty degeneration of the heart 

 is very frequently discovered ^os^ mortem. 



On the Distribution of Iron in Animal and Vegetable Cells. 

 By Professor A. B. Macallum, Ph.D. 



3. On the Presence of Copper in Animal Cells. 

 Jhj Professor W. A. Herdman, F.R.S., and Professor Rubebt Botce. 



' By the plethysmographic method this second rise and fall are found to be pro- 

 duced by a constriction followed by a dilatation of the peripheral blood-vessels. 



