608 REPORT—1899. 
examination of the physiological effects produced by these substances when 
introduced into the circulation. This was carried into effect with the kind 
permission of Professor A. Kossel, in the Physiological Institute of Mar- 
burg University. A preliminary communication dealing with the results, 
so far as obtained, will, it is hoped, be made to Section I. at the forth- 
coming Meeting. 
The Influence of Drugs upon the Vascular Nervous System.—Report of 
the Committee, consisting of Professor F. GorcH (Chairman), 
Professor HALLIBuRTON (Secretary), and Dr. F. W. Morr. 
Tue physiological action of choline and neurine has been investigated by 
Dr. F. W. Mott, M.D., F.R.S., and Professor Halliburton ; the results 
of their experiments are embodied in the subjoined third report. 
In the two reports which precede this, we have shown that cerebro- 
spinal fluid from cases of general paralysis of the insane contains choline, 
and that the fall of arterial blood-pressure that takes place when the 
fluid is injected into animals is due to this substance. This base is absent 
from normal cerebro-spinal fluid, and is doubtless, in the pathological 
fluid, derived from the disintegration of lecithin in the cerebral tissue. 
The proof that the base is choline rests partly on its chemical identifica- 
tion in the fluid, and partly on the identical action which the fluid has 
with weak solutions (0°2 per cent.) of choline or choline hydrochloride. 
The closely related and much more toxic base, neurine, is absent. 
In the case of choline, the fall of blood-pressure is partly cardiac and 
partly produced by vascular dilatation, especially in the intestinal area. 
Contrary to expectation the spleen does not participate in this dilatation, 
but is constricted ; this constriction is followed by an increase of the 
normal splenic waves. It seems probable that the material in extracts 
of brain which Schafer and Moore found to produce the same effect is 
choline. Neurine produces a much more intense constriction of the 
spleen, but no exaggeration of the splenic waves follows. The action of 
the base on the intestinal blood vessels is due to its action on the neuro- 
muscular mechanism of the blood vessels themselves. This was demon- 
strated by locally bathing the mesenteric vessels with solutions of choline ; 
and by the fact that choline still continues to produce the usual fall of 
arterial pressure, (1) after the spinal cord has been divided high up, 
(2) after the splanchnic nerves have been cut, and (3) after the animal 
has been poisoned with nicotine ; the last method excludes any action of 
peripheral ganglia. 
Neurine produces a fall of blood-pressure, chiefly due to its action on 
the heart ; this is followed by a rise of pressure, due to constriction of 
peripheral vessels. Using the same methods as in the investigation of 
choline, this is not an action on the central nervous system. The con- 
striction of the vessels is, however, probably due to the action of the base 
on the peripheral ganglia, for after nicotine poisoning it docs not occur. 
The animals used have been dogs, cats, and rabbits. These were 
always anesthetised with ether, chloroform, or A. C. E. mixture ; in some 
cases they also had a subcutaneous injection of morphine. If, however, 
a small amount of atropine is mixed with the morphine, the effect of 
choline is always a rise of blood pressure ; the lever of the intestinal 
oncometer also rises. 
