260 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XL 



were well marked. Babu D. Mukarji reports another case wherein 

 similar symptoms were noticed. He pointedly observes that the action 

 of the poisonous element resembles that of strychnia. He corroborates 

 the statement made above regarding the extreme slowness of the pulse 

 by adding that the marked difference between the effects of oleander 

 and nux-vomica-poisoning consists in the slowness of the pulse. In 

 nux-vomica-poisoning it is generally unaffected, becoming slightly 

 quickened only during a fit ; but in oleander-poisoning its preternatural 

 slowness is a marked feature. (Dymock.) This can be accounted 

 for by the fact that this glucoside is not the only poisonous element 

 in the imbibed potion ; there are others, such as Oleandrme or 

 Neriodoriri) Neriiny and Nerianthin which are distinct cardiac 

 poisons. They stimulate the cardiac muscle to start with ; they besides 

 stimulate the Vagus Centre, as also the Capillaries. Lauder Brunton 

 classes Nenin along with Digitalin, Digitaliin, Helleboreine, Scillain^ 

 Antiarin, Thevetine^ Theversine, &c. " The stimulation of the cardiac 

 muscle is shown by increased energy of contraction, the rate of pulsation 

 remaining the same or becoming slower. These are so-called Cardiac 

 Poisons ; with a large dose, the stage of stimulation is followed by one 

 of peristaltic action, and final arrest in the systole. This stoppage of 

 heart in systole occurs in frogs, but in higher animals the heart may 

 stop in diastole."* 



Dragendorff recognizes Oleandrine as the alkaloid found in the plant, 

 but says he is not familiar with it, and refers the reader to the researches 

 of Leukowsky.f Dymock, in referring to the researches of Leukowsky 

 says that the latter recognizes in the leaves of oleander the presence of 

 two alkaloids — namely, Oleandrine and Pseudo-curarine. Dymock fur- 

 ther quotes the researches of Hchmiedeberg, which, in view of the 

 quotation from Sohn given above, referring to the difference of opinion 

 as regards the nature of the true alkaloid, may well be repeated here. 

 " Schmiedeberg (1883), who considers Oleandrine to be a glucoside, found 

 in the leaves two other glucosides — Neriine and Neriantine : he considers 

 Neriine to be identical with 3igitaleine. , ' ! % 



Greenish recognizes two bitter principles in the bark, Nertodore'in and 



Neriodorin, which, he says, are closely allied non-nitrogenous substances, 



• Pharmacology and Therapeutics, p. 276, 1885. 



f Plant Analysis translated by Greenish, p. 204, 1884 



{ Pharmacographia Indica, p. 401, Vol. 11,1891. 



