1016 DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 



170° F. with 0"5 per cent, sulphuric acid. When, however, strophanthin was boiled with 

 stronger than 0'5 per cent, sulphuric acid, although much glucose was generally produced, 

 no crystalline strophanthidin, but only a brown amorphous substance, appeared as a 

 result of the decomposition. 



The crystals of strophanthidin produced in the cold by sulphuric acid were usually 

 in the form of colourless nodules or rosettes, consisting of moderately thick, lancet- 

 shaped crystals (Plate VII. fig. 10). The finest crystals, of long and slender form, 

 were obtained when strophanthin was heated to 160° or 170° F. with 0'3 and 0'5 per 

 cent, sulphuric acid. 



When the decomposition is produced so as to allow the physical changes to be 

 observed under the microscope, the changes are found to be much the same as those 

 already described in the decomposition, in similar circumstances, of the extract 

 (p. 1004), except that the crystals that are formed are absolutely colourless. Thus, 

 when a drop of 2 per cent, sulphuric acid was added to a small drop of solution of 

 strophanthin, slender rods appeared on the second day, and, on the third day, small 

 circular crystalline masses having a radiating structure, which increased in size and 

 number during the two following days. In another experiment, the addition of 10 per 

 cent, sulphuric acid immediately produced an abundant precipitation of minute particles ; 

 and round, clear bodies, and colourless circular crystalline masses, having radial mark- 

 ings, appeared during several subsequent days. 



In addition to the influence of acids on strophanthin, that of ptyaline was also 

 examined. 0*1 gramme of strophanthin was dissolved in 5 c.c. of distilled water, and to 

 the clear solution 2 c.c. of filtered saliva* was added. The now decidedly alkaline mixture 

 was digested for an hour at a temperature ranging between 99° and 100° F. The diges- 

 tion did not produce any obvious change, nor could any strophanthidin be detected in 

 the fluid after it had cooled. When, however, it was tested with Fehling's reagent, 

 reduction immediately occurred, and an estimation showed that rather less than one per 

 cent, of glucose had been produced. Prolonged contact with saliva at the body tem- 

 perature is therefore able to cause only a slight decomposition. As a large quantity 

 of saliva of great diastatic activity had been used in this experiment, it is reasonable 

 to infer that in the ordinary administration of strophanthus, decomposition will not be 

 produced to any appreciable extent by admixture with the mouth secretions. 



The relatively slight decomposition which has been shown to occur (Table X. 

 Analysis No. 24) when extract of strophanthus is digested for half an hour with 0"1 per 

 cent, hydrochloric acid at a temperature ranging between 98° and 100° F., appears also 

 to justify the inference that when strophanthus is introduced into the stomach it will 

 be absorbed into the blood before any important part of the dose has undergone decom- 

 position. 



* The saliva was obtained, with the usual precautions to exclude impurity, from an adult to whom pilocarpine had 

 been administered. It was alkaline in reaction, and neither before nor after prolonged heating, did it affect Fehling's 

 solution. A small quantity rapidly and abundantly produced glucose in starch solution. 



