VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL TOXINS. 4S 



Robin. — This toxic albuminoid was obtained 

 from the bark of an Acacia (Robinia Pseudacacia) 

 by Power and Cambier,* by exhausting with water 

 at a temperature of about 30° C, and precipitating 

 the infusion with alcohol. The substance is analo- 

 gous to ricin, and like this, possesses powerful 

 toxic properties. 



Toxicity of the Vegetable Diastases. — The dias- 

 tases, which have been treated of in a volume of 

 the Encyclopedic Leaute.f and to which we would 

 refer the reader who is desirous of more complete 

 details, develop powerfully energetic toxic properties 

 when injected into the organism. Thus amylase 

 causes, when injected subcutaneously, a consider- 

 able rise of temperature, but without any other 

 toxic symptoms. Invertin or sucrase was studied 

 by Roussy under the name pyretogenin, but it 

 appears probable that this diastase was not the 

 only substance present in the product, but that 

 there were present reducing diastases, as we have 

 already shown in the first volmue of this collection, 

 devoted to the phenomena of reduction within the 

 living organism. 



The pyretogenin of Roussy gives rise to an 

 attack of violent fever, but it loses all activity when 

 heated to 80-100° C. 



* Power and Cambier: Pharm. Journ. and Transact., 1890. 

 t Pozzi-Escot: Les Diastases et kurs Applications. Masson, 

 1900, 



