132 Report of Schimmel § Co. April 1913. 



that the vapours of jp-cymene, «-terpinene, J 3 -menthene and menthane in a concen- 

 tration of 0,004 to 0,013 gram per liter of air cause paralysis of the isolated heart of the 

 frog, after a more or less clearly-defined stage of excitement. Carvone, dihydrocarvone, 

 tetrahydrocarvone, menthol, menthone, zl 1 -menthenone-3, camphor, and borneol, given 

 in a concentration of 1:40000 in physiological solution of salt, lowered the function 

 of the isolated heart of the frog immediately after they began to affect the ventricles. 

 When, after a short time, the solution of the products above-named was removed and 

 replaced by a fresh solution of salt, a brief augmentation of the heart-function, exceeding 

 the normal, generally ensued. Menthol appears to form an exception to this rule. 

 Even after the menthol-solution was removed and the heart washed-out with a pure 

 solution of salt it remained affected to a certain degree. With regard to the experi- 

 ments with paramsecia, the ketones cause a condition of excitement of which the 

 duration depends upon the degree of concentration; this is followed by paralysis. 

 Noteworthy variations in the degree of activity were observed within the groups menthone- 

 menthenone and carvone -dihydrocarvone -tetrahydrocarvone. These variations run 

 parallel with similar variations in the lowering of the surface-tension in aqueous solutions. 



It appears from an investigation by O. Loeb 1 ) that the internal and subcutaneous 

 administration of aliphatic aldehydes (such as formaldehyde, formaldehyde-sodium bi- 

 sulphite, acetaldehyde, paraldehyde, ?'sobutylaldehyde, valeraldehyde, cenanthic aldehyde 

 and citral) to rabbits produces symptoms of arterio-necrosis. Furfurol, aromatic alde- 

 hydes (benzaldehyde, salicylic aldehyde, and cinnamic aldehyde), ketones (acetone and 

 diethyl ketone), and alcohols (methyl and ethyl alcohol) have no such effect. 



On the irritant action of pastinac upon the skin, see p. 78. 

 On the pharmacological action of sandalwood oil see p. 94. 



Phyto-physiological Notes. 



When testing the suitability for pharmaceutical purposes of valerian root grown 

 in the neighbourhood of Wiirzburg, W. Unger-) discovered that the essential oil con- 

 tained in the corky hypodermic cells of valerian root is surrounded by an exceedingly 

 tender envelope, which becomes perceptible only after the oil has been removed. Pressed 

 to the wall of the envelope a minute body, usually shattered into fragments, is frequently 

 discovered. This body may be the remains of a previous cellular nucleus. The envelope 

 may be seen in a much finer form in the large oil-drops which sometimes occur in 

 the layers of the cells of the bark adjoining the hypodermis. When these oil-drops 

 are dissolved a circular ring becomes perceptible. It is difficult to give an opinion 

 on the chemical character of the envelope, but it is certain that it consists neither of 

 protoplasm nor of the residue of an undissolved secretion. Its extraordinary thinness 

 is a great obstacle to the application of colour-tests. Apparently the envelope is 

 wholly indifferent towards potash liquor and copper oxide ammonia. 



Unger states that in other plants also the oil-drops may be contained within an 

 envelope. Sections of cherry laurel leaves afford instructive instances of this fact. 



x ) Arch. f. exp. Pathol, u. Pharmak. 69 (1912), 114; Chem. Zentralbl. 1912, II. 1142. — 2 ) Apotheker Ztg. 

 27 (1912), 1021. 



