1872.] 



History of the Opium Alkaloids. 



287 



dog being also employed in a few experiments), quantities equivalent to 0*1 

 grm. of the anhydrous salt being used in each experiment. Four cats were 

 employed, several trials being made with each animal, and three or four 

 days being allowed to intervene between each experiment, so that the effects 

 of one dose had entirely passed away and the animal entirely recovered 

 before the administration of another dose. The main results observed 

 were as follow : — 



Codeia. — Four experiments. In each instance dilated pupils ; cerebral 

 congestion (determined by ophthalmoscopic examination), and much in- 

 creased reflex excitability (epileptic convulsions in one case) ; salivation and 

 purging in two cases ; vomiting not produced in any case. 



Dicodeia. — Two experiments. In each instance vomiting ; fundus of eye 

 not congested ; pupil dilated in one case. 



Another experiment with a dog (full-grown she-terrier) produced sali- 

 vation and purging without vomiting ; no cerebral congestion. 



Tricodeia. — Three experiments. In each case salivation (profuse) and 

 dilated pupils ; no cerebral congestion ; in one case slight excitement, in 

 the others purging and depression : vomiting produced in one of these two 

 latter instances, micturation in the other. 



Tetracodeia. — Four experiments. In each case profuse salivation, 

 micturation, and depression ; dilated pupils in three instances, and lachry- 

 mation in two ; in one case vomiting and purging, in another increased 

 reflex excitability with an occasional convulsion (cat was weak and not in 

 good condition) ; slight hypnotism in two cases. 



In two experiments with the dog, salivation and depression only were 

 produced. 



From these results it would appear that codeia produces cerebral con- 

 gestion and increased reflex excitability without vomiting ; whilst di- and 

 tetracodeia produce profuse salivation and some depression, with vomiting in 

 several instances, no evidence of cerebral congestion and but little of in- 

 creased reflex excitability being noticeable. 



§ 6. Conclusions. 



The foregoing results suggest the probability of other bases being 

 capable of forming similar polymerides. In anticipation of this result 

 experiments are in progress with morphia. 



Hesse has shown* that by the action of HC1 on thebaine there are 

 produced two isomerides of that base, one forming crystalline salts, one 

 amorphous salts ; not improbably these are respectively dithebaine and 

 tetrathebaine. 



Matthiessen and Foster have shownf that cotarnine occurs in crystals 

 of the formula 12 H 13 NO 8 +|H 2 O and C ia H 13 NO a +H a O j and the 



* Aim. CheuQ. Pharm. vol. clxiii. p. 47. 

 t Proc. Koy. Soc. vol. xvii. p. 342 (5). 



