RELATIONSHIP OF WHITE SNAKEROOT AND MILKSICKNESS. 17 



proper degree. An extract representing 109 grams of the dried plant 

 weighed after extraction (perhaps about 400 grams of the fresh 

 plant) was given by month to a rabbit weighing 3 pounds 5 ounces 

 (1,502.5 grams), but no symptoms were observed. 



After a similar extract representing 127 grams of dry residue had 

 been injected subcutaneously into the back of the same rabbit dis- 

 tinct tremors were shown in the hips and masseter muscles. Death 

 followed during the night. No enlargement of the kidneys was seen. 



EXTRACTS FROM ASH. 



The method of preparation of extracts from ash was as follows : 

 Ten grams of the dry herb were ashed in a platinum bowl and the ash 

 washed into a porcelain bowl and carefully treated with acetic acid 

 to decompose the carbonates, then evaporated to dryness and treated 

 with water. The free acid was removed by repeated evaporation. The 

 residue was treated with water, but not all dissolved, perhaps owing to 

 the formation of basic salts. An emulsion consisting of the solution 

 with the undissolved portion when injected subcutaneously produced 

 marked tremors in the hips in rabbits after an hour and a quarter, 

 and later in the masseter muscles. A marked acceleration of the 

 respiration was also observed. After one and three-fourths hours the 

 masseter muscles still twitched, but after two and one- fourth hours 

 slight, if any, tremors were seen. No tremors were noted on the fol- 

 lowing day. 



In ashing plants a large portion of the calcium-barium group will 

 unite with the oxidized sulphur, forming insoluble sulphates, and 

 thus be rendered inactive physiologically. Thus, trembling resulted 

 from the injection of less of the inorganic salts than corresponds to 

 10 grams of the dry plant. This muscular twitching is well known 

 to result from the hypodermic injection of certain salts (sodium, 

 etc.), but not after administration by mouth. 



An injection of a similar extract from 20 grams of the plant also 

 produced the same result. 



EFFECT OE W T HITE SNAKEROOT ON CATS. 



After an extract prepared from chloroform-preserved material 

 corresponding to 50 grams of the dry plant residue was fed to a cat 

 weighing 1 pound 8 ounces (680.3 grams), emesis followed in about 

 fifteen minutes. When an aqueous extract corresponding to a dry 

 plant residue of 39 grams was evaporated to 32 c. c. and 7 c. c. of this 

 extract were fed twenty minutes after the emesis referred to and 11 

 c. c. Avere given thirty-five minutes later, urination and defecation fol- 

 lowed promptly with renewed emesis in about ten minutes. Thirty 



