104 



Dr. S. Martin. The Toxic Action of the [May 16, 



action of the watery extract of abrus-seed, containing both globulin 

 and albumose, is completely destroyed by boiling the solution. 

 "Wolfenden and I have shown in our previous paper that if the 

 solution of the globulin be momentarily raised to 80° C, or between 

 75° and 80° C, its activity is once and for ever destroyed. 



I have tested the behaviour of the albumose in a similar way. 



If heated to 50° C. the albumose still retains its power of pro- 

 ducing severe conjunctivitis, and of causing death when subcuta- 

 neously injected. 



If heated to 70°, or 75° C, the albumose is still poisonous, but not 

 to nearly so great a degree as if unheated or heated only to 50° C. If 

 heated to 80° C, this diminishing effect of heat on the activity of the 

 poison is still more seen ; so that a solution of albumose containing a 

 lethal dose, and so treated, does not produce poisonous symptoms so 

 soon as an unheated solution, and the animal may recover. 



These points are brought out in the following experiments, selected 

 out of many similar ones, all of which were confirmative. 



Experiment II October 13th, 1888. — An equal and lethal dose of 

 albumose injected under the skin of each of three rats. A is un- 

 heated ; B heated to 75° 0. ; and heated to 80° C, previous to 

 inoculation. 



A. 



"White rat, weight 162 



grams. 

 Unheated albumose. 



B. 



Eat, weight 153 grams, 

 Albumose heated to 75° C. 



C. 



Rat, weight 108 grams. 

 Albumose heated to 80° C. 



11 a.m., Oct. 13, 1888. Inoculation made under skin of back. 

 2 P.M. No change in any of the animals, 



11 p.m. Animal languid No change. No change, 



and drowsy. Not easily 

 roused by stimulation. 

 Huddled together. Quite 

 quiet, and not breathing 

 very rapidly. 



Oct. 14, 1888." 



11 a.m. Found dead. 



P.M. — Rigor mortis well 

 marked. Body cold. 

 Slight oedema at site of 

 injection. No other 

 morbid appearances. 



Found dead. 



P.M. — Rigor mortis well 

 marked. At site of in- | 

 jection, subcutaneous I 

 oedema. Small amount | 

 of sticky fluid in peri- 

 toneum. No further 

 morbid appearances. 



HuddJed together. Quite 

 quiet. Breathing rapid. 

 Animal dying. 



Died during the day. 



The above experiment shows the delay of poisonous symptoms pro- 

 duced by heating the albumose up to 75° C. and to 80° C. 



In the following experiment, the same fact is brought out, but the 

 result shows recovery from a fatal dose of albumose, heated up to 

 80° C, and no poisonous symptoms after heating the albumose to 

 85° 0. 



