1022 DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHTJS HISPIDUS. 



On further examination, the 10 '5 4 grains of alcohol extract was found to contain — 



Impure strophanthin, 5*7 grains = 54*07 per cent, of alcohol extract, or 1*03 per cent, of endocarp. 

 Mucilage, 3*67 grains = 34*8 1 „ ,, „ 0-67 ,, „ 



Resin, 1' grain = 9*48 „ „ „ 0*18 „ ,, 



This impure strophanthin was freely soluble in water, acid in reaction, and strongly 

 bitter, though at the same time sweetish in taste. It was examined for glucose, and 

 12 per cent, of this substance was found in it; so that in 5*7 grains there was 5*02 

 grains, or 88'07 per cent, of impure strophanthin and 0"68 grains of glucose. 



Stated otherwise, 5 '7 grains of very impure strophanthin contained — 



Impure strophanthin, 5*02 grains = 47*62 per cent, of alcohol extract, or 0*91 per cent, of endocarp. 

 Glucose, 0*68grains = 6*45 „ „ „ 0*124 „ ,, 



This impure strophanthin was amorphous, and of a pale brown colour and acid 

 reaction. It gave indistinctly the chemical reactions of strophanthin, and 0*002 grain 

 of it, by subcutaneous injection, was found to be a lethal dose for a frog, the pharmaco- 

 logical effects being those of strophanthin. 



Pericarp. 



548 grains of the entire pericarp (including endocarp) of the follicle (see p. 981), 



reduced to a coarse powder, gave, by percolation with four parts of rectified spirit, an 



extract which weighed 9 '92 grains, or 1*8 per cent, of the pericarp. This extract 



yielded — 



Analysis No. 46. 



Ether extract, 3*8 grains = 38*306 per cent, of extract, or 0*693 per cent, of pericarp. 

 Alcohol extract, 5 - 9 grains = 59*475 „ „ 1*076 ,, „ 



From this 5*9 grains of alcohol extract there was obtained — 



Impure strophanthin, 3*25 grains = 55*06 per cent, of alcohol extract, or 0*59 per cent, of pericarp. 

 Mucilage, 2*32 grains = 39*32 „ „ „ 0*42 „ „ 



Resin, 0*23 grain = 3*89 „ „ „ 0*04 „ „ 



The impure strophanthin was pale brown, acid, and hygroscopic ; and it had a saline 

 and only faintly bitter taste, and an aromatic odour. It contained an undetermined 

 quantity of glucose. In its dry state a large number of minute acicular crystals were 

 present in it, but these crystals disappeared when it became soft and liquid on exposure 

 to the air. Chemical tests gave indistinct evidence of the presence of strophanthin. It 

 possessed very feeble pharmacological activity, as 0'2 grain, administered by subcutaneous 

 injection to a frog, weighing 427 grains, did not cause death, although this dose was 

 sufficient to cause slight strophanthin symptoms. 



Leaves. 



100 grains of dried and well-preserved leaves, obtained from Mr Buchanan, were 

 ground to a coarse powder, and extracted with rectified spirit. The alcoholic extract 



