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EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 



We have extracted the two following paragraphs from the ' Phar- 

 maceutical Journal ' of August 16th : — 



Spider Poison. — E. Kobert has investigated the debated question as 

 to whether indigenous German spiders are poisonous to higher animals 

 and men. He finds that the introduced species (Chiracanthium nutrix), 

 particularly the female, which bites when disturbed, is toxic. A case 

 occurred in which the bite of one of these spiders was followed by a 

 rigor, and the wound subsequently suppurated. The native Epeira 

 diadema is also poisonous. Of the juice of the whole spider, one milli- 

 gramme injected into a cat occasioned death. Probably the fluid 

 secreted by the poison glands alone would be much more toxic. The 

 poison appears to be a soluble albuminoid. Sachs has extracted the 

 poison by macerating the Epeiras in toluol water containing 10 per 

 cent, of salt. By this means he has isolated very active hemolysin, 

 which disintegrates the blood corpuscles of man and animals at ordinary 

 temperatures. It appears to be a toxin. — Pharm. Centralh. 



Toad Poison. — C. Phisalix and G. Bertrand have succeeded in 

 isolating two toxic principles from the parotid gland and skin of the 

 Common Toad (Bufo vulgaris). Of these bufotaline, C 119 H 171 25 , 

 occurs as a transparent resin, very soluble in alcohol, chloroform, and 

 acetone ; less soluble in ether, and almost insoluble in petroleum ether 

 or in carbon disulphide. It is precipitated from alcoholic solution on 

 the addition of water, forming an emulsion, which is redissolved on 

 further adding a large volume of water. Although very dilute, the 

 solution thus obtained is extremely toxic to Frogs. It acts on the 

 heart, and does not affect the nervous system. Applied to the tongue, 

 it has a bitter taste, and gives rise to a peculiar and very persistent 

 sensation. It is obtained by squeezing the parotid glands of the 

 animals under water. — Comptes rend. 



The investigation into the connection between Mosquitoes and 

 fever, especially in West Africa, is still being pursued with activity. 

 Lieut. -Colonel A. H. Morris, D.S.O., now in charge of the Northern 

 Territories of the Gold Coast, has made a report to the Colonial Office 

 on the subject, of which the following is an extract : — 



" Now that so much attention is being paid to Dr. Ross's anti- 

 Mosquito campaign in West Africa-, it may be perhaps of interest to 

 mention our efforts in this direction in Gambaga. 



" Following out the instructions for the prevention of malarial 

 fever published by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, I caused 

 all holes that might contain puddles, and so become breeding grounds 



