1889.] Albumose from the Seeds o/Abrus precatorius. 105 



Experiment III. November 1st, 1888. — An equal and lethal dose of 

 albumose injected under the skin of three rats : — A is unheated ; B is 

 heated to 80° C. ; and C to 85° C. :— 



A. 



White rat, weight 142 



grams. 

 Nov. 1, 1888. 

 11.20 A.m. Inoculated. 

 3.30 P.M. No change. 



Nov. 2, 9.30 a.m. Animal 

 died. Rigor mortis came 

 on immediately. 



Nov. 3, 10 A.M. 



B. 



Hat, weight 126 grams. 



11.10 a.m. Inoculated. 

 No change. 



Animal ill. Quiet, hud- 

 dled together, and 

 breathing very rapidly. 



At 12 symptoms became 

 aggravated. 



Animal quite recovered. 

 Breathing normal. 

 Takes its food well. 



C. 



Bat, weight 125 grams. 



11.15 A.m. Inoculated. 

 JSo change. 



No change. 

 No change. 



No change. Animal re- 

 mained quite well. 



Similar results were obtained in testing the effect of the albumose 

 in producing conjunctivitis. Raising the solution to a temperature 

 of 75° C. and 80° C. diminishes the effect but does not Ipre vent con- 

 junctivitis developing; the conjunctivitis is less with albumose 

 heated to 80° than with that heated to 7-5°. 



Experiment VI. April 17th, 1889. — One milligram albumose dis- 

 solved in 2 minims of distilled water dropped into right and left eye 

 of rabbit. That dropped into left eye was previously heated to 80° C. 



Rigid JEi/e. 



Unheated albumose. 

 April 17, 1889, 10.37 a.m. Inoculation. 

 „ 18, 10 a.m. Severe conjunctivitis 



with chemosis. 

 „ 23, 10 a.m. Cornea cloudy ; with 

 one leucoma. Sub- 

 conjunctival ecchy- 

 mosis. 



Left Eye. 



Albumose heated to 80° C. 

 10.32 A.M. Inoculation. 

 10 A.M. Very slight inflammation and 



a little purulent discharge. 

 10 a.m. Q.uite normal. 



The conclusions from these experiments may thus be summed up : — 



1. The poisonous activity of abr us- albumose is weakened by momentarily 

 heating its solution to a temperature of 70°, 75°, and 80° G. ; and the 

 higher the temperature the greater the diminution. 



2. The activity of the albumose is completely destroyed by heating its 

 solution up to 85° G. 



This is about five degrees higher than the temperature at which the 

 activity of abrus-globulin is destroyed. 



Remarks on the Results obtained. — It is impossible not to be struck 

 with the resemblances in chemical composition between abrus-poison 



