120 VETEEINAEY TOXICOLOGY 



Chemical Diag'nosis. — E serine is separated in the 

 ordinary procedure for alkaloids. Its solutions on keeping 

 assume a reddish colour, without loss of activity. The 

 myotic effect may be observed, but other myotics such 

 as pilocarpine and muscarine must be excluded. 



Eserine gives the following colour tests : Sulphuric acid, 

 yellow ; bleaching powder solution, red ; bromine, red ; but 

 none of these is characteristic. 



PILOCARPINE. 



OecuPFence. — The leaves of Pilocarpus jaborandi, in- 

 digenous to Brazil, contain the alkaloid pilocarpine, which 

 is usually prescribed in the form of the nitrate. 



Pilocarpine is allied in its physiological actions to eserine, 

 and more closely to muscarine. Muscarine is the active 

 alkaloid contained in the fungus Agaricus muscarius, or the 

 fly-blown agaric. This plant is used by the Siberian 

 natives to produce a kind of intoxication, and by long 

 use they appear to gain a degree of tolerance to its toxic 

 effects. 



Effects and Symptoms. — Pilocarpine stimulates glandular 

 excretion and involuntary muscle. Horses salivate copiously ; 

 after 3 grains subcutaneously the horse champs its jaws and 

 salivates freely, but does not sweat ; the bowels move freely 

 by stimulation of the involuntary intestinal muscles 

 (F. Smith). With large doses the mucous secretion of the 

 bronchi is so great that taken along with the contraction 

 of the tubes, great dyspnoea, which may be fatal, is pro- 

 duced. According to Kaufmann horses are poisoned by 

 5 grains subcutaneously, but cattle are less sensitive. The 

 dog and cat are more sensitive, Frohner stating that 

 I grain killed a dog weighing 132 pounds by pulmonary 

 oedema (Finlay Dun). 



Poisoning by pilocarpine could scarcely occur as the 

 result of accident or malice. It is only likely to happen 

 under treatment, and it is not therefore necessary for 



