248 BACTIiKlAL POISONS. 



tively large doses. Thus, Beieger found it necessary to 

 give about 0.1 gramme of eholiue chloride hypodermi- 

 cally to a one kilogramme rabbit in order to bring out the 

 same effects as are obtained by the injection of 0.005 

 gramme of the neurine salt. He also found that the 

 fatal dose for a one-kilogramme rabbit was about 0.5 

 gramme, which is about ten times as large as the fatal 

 dose of neurine chloride. Boehm observed that doses of 

 0.025-0.1 gramme produced in frogs general paralysis, 

 which, in a short time, leads to death or recovery ; and 

 that in its curara-like paralyzing action, choline resembles 

 artificial muscarine, although the latter is about five 

 hundred times stronger. Atropine, as in the case of 

 neurine and muscarine, antagonizes the action of choline. 

 Thus, 0.05 gramme of the chloride produced in a frog in 

 one hour diastolic stoppage of the heart. This condition 

 was removed by the injection of 001 gramme of atropine, 

 the heart-beat rising to the normal in about fourteen min- 

 utes ; 0.05 gramme of choline chloride, given subcutane- 

 ously to a rabbit (1250 grammes) produced salivation, which 

 lasted but a short time, and did not affect the heart-beat 

 and respiration ; 0.10 gramme was necessary to bring out 

 all the symptoms; 0.05 gramme, given to guinea-pigs, had 

 no effect whatever. 



Betaine (Oxyneurine), CjHjjNOj. — This base has 

 been well known for some time, because of its occurrence 

 in the vegetable kingdom. Thus, it is present in cotton- 

 seed (BoEHJL, Eitthausen and Wegee); in beet-root juice 

 (Beta vulgaris), and hence in beet-root molasses (Schei- 

 blee, 1866). It occurs also in cattle-turnip and Lycium 

 barbarum ; and is found with choline and another base in 

 vetch-seeds ; in peas a base similar to betaine exists 

 (Schulze). With choline it occurs in Scopolia atropoides 

 (Siebeet). It does not exist in these substances as such, 

 but is formed from a more complex substance by the action 

 of hydrochloric acid or baryta (Liebeeich). In this respect 

 it resembles choline, neurine, and probably muscarine. 

 Quite recently, Lippmann (1887) has obtained a lecithin- 



