LUPINES AS POISONOUS PLANTS. 9 



Nature of the alkaloids. — The alkaloids were not obtained sufficiently 

 pure to make definite characterizations possible. Their close agree- 

 ment with those obtained from the Eiiropean species in physiological 

 action and fatal dose make it very probable that they are closely 

 related, if not identical. Lupinidin was fairly well identified by the 

 conin odor, by the insolubiUty of the double chlorid formed with mer- 

 cury, and by the insolubility of the acid sulphate in absolute alcohol. 

 The precipitation by these reagents was not complete, so that there 

 must be other alkaloids present, presumably lupinin and lupanin. 

 This portion of the work needs further elaboration. 



The yield of crude alkaloids in the extraction was as follows: 



Specimen IV: Lupinus sericeus, parasitized pods, 0.02 per cent from alkaline ex- 

 tract; 0.133 per cent from watery extract. 



Specimen V: Lupinus eyanev^, seed, 2.462 per cent. 



Gerhard foimd from 0.5 to 1.2 per cent in the European lupines. 



TOXICITY OF THE EXTRACTS. 



The various extracts, prepared as described, were administered to 

 rabbits and guinea pigs, by mouth, stomach tube, and hypodermi- 

 cally. The symptoms were practically identical, and will be described 

 later. It was found : 



(a) That the toxic principles must be alkaloidal rather than ictrogenic. 



(6) That the fatal dose of the drug (as extracts) to rabbits by stomach, in the case of 

 the seeds of Lupinus sericeus and L. leucophyllus , was between 30 and 50 grams per 

 kilogram, with the seeds of L. cyaneus between 70 and 100 grams per kilogram, and 

 with empty pods of L. sericeus and L. cyaneus over 100 grams per kilogram. 



(c) That the fatal dose of the crude alkaloids (in the purest form in which they were 

 used, from Specimen V) lies, for rabbits, gastric administration, between 1.2 and 2.4 

 grams per kilogram; for rabbits, hypodermic administration, between 0.123 and 0.246 

 grams per kilogram (agrees with Lowenthal's (1888) figures for lupinidin and lupanin, 

 viz, 0.2 and 0.4); for guinea pigs, hypodermic administration, between 0.052 and 0.1 

 gram per kilogram. 



(d) That the alkaloids are five to ten times as toxic for rabbits when given hypo- 

 dermically as when given by the stomach tube. 



(c) That guinea pigs are about twice as susceptible to the poison, when given hypo- 

 dermically, as rabbits are. 



(J) That repeated administration of the poison to animals did not increase their 

 susceptibility, aa is shown by the fact that rather prolonged feeding was not fatal, 

 and that no tolerance is produced in this manner, as is shown by rabbits 77 and 78. A. 

 The animals in either case, after having been injected repeatedly, died from the laet 

 do.^e, although these doses were not very greatly above the fatal limit. 



SYMPTOMS OF LUPINE POISONING. 



It will be usciful to describe the typical course, which occurs with 

 only minor variations when any of the extracts are administered. 

 The symptoms set in with a gc.iuiral depression. The animal is 

 very quiet, sits flat with ears laid back; the respiration is rapid, 

 labored, and irregular. The temp(!raturo is not altenul in a constant 

 manner. After a time it is noted that the animal, while a])athctic 

 52191°— Bull. 405—16 2 



