MOUNTAIN LAUREL, A POISONOUS PLANT. 33 



Plugge concluded that andromedotoxin was the active principle of 

 the Ericaceae in general. 



In the case of Rhododendron hirsntum, Plugge a found that the 

 chloroform shaking failed to produce any immediate symptoms in 

 frogs, but three hours after injection convulsions with slight respira- 

 tory disturbance occurred, with the secretion of mucus from the 

 mouth. These symptoms completely disappeared, differing from those 

 of andromedotoxin. This extract gave no reactions with dilute or 

 concentrated HC1, 25 per cent phosphoric acid, and dilute H 2 S0 4 . 

 In studying the distribution of andromedotoxin, Plugge makes the 

 interesting observation that concentrated solutions of Erica vulgaris, 

 now known as Galluna vulgaris, injected subcutaneously into frogs 

 cause symptoms resembling those of andromedotoxin poisoning, yet 

 •chemically no trace of this body could be found. 5 



Lasche also studied the action of extracts of Kalmia latifolia and 

 K. angustifolia on animals, and corroborated Plugge's data, but 

 isolated no pure body and made no chemical analysis. He used the 

 berries in his work. 



Matusow, d while accepting the belief that andromedotoxin is the 

 active principle of the leaves, says that the chemical reactions of the 

 root correspond with those of andromedotoxin, except with hydro- 

 chloric acid. He claims the presence of calcium, magnesium, alumi- 

 num, manganese, and iron in the roots. 



Archangelsky G examined another member of the Ericaceae, the 

 Rhododendron chrysanthum, a native of Siberia, and isolated a crys- 

 talline principle, rhododendrin, with the empirical formula C 16 H 22 7 , 

 which was inactive to frogs, and a crystalline body, rhododendrol, 

 which acted on frogs similarly to camphor. He also claimed the 

 presence of andromedotoxin, but did not isolate it. He examined 

 Rhododendron ponticum and obtaijied the same color reactions and 

 physiological reactions found by Plugge with andromedotoxin. 



a Plugge, P. C. Andrornedotoxinhaltige Ericaceen. Arch. d. Pharm., vol. 229, 

 p. 553, 1891. 



6 Plugge, P. C. Fortgesetzte Untersuch. ii. d. Verbreit. d. Audromedotoxius in 

 d. Familie d. Ericaceen. Arch. d. Pharm., vol. 27, p. 171, 1889. 



c Lasche, A. J. M. Examination of Some of the Poisonous Ericaceae of North 

 America. Pharm. Rund., vol. 7, p. 208, 1889. 



^Matusow, H. Analysis of the Root of Kalmia Latifolia. Amer. Jour. 

 Pharm., vol. 69, p. 341, 1897. 



e Archangelsky, K. Ueber Rhododendrol, Rhododendrin und Andromedotoxin. 

 Arch. f. exper. Path. u. Pharm., vol. 46, p. 313, 1901. 



121—n 



