338 Dr. Cash and Prof. Dunstan. Pharmacology of 



In the present state of the theory, no object is to be gained in 

 pursuing these analogies further. They serve, however, to show 

 directions in which further investigation is to be carried out. 



It is clear that if a magnetic field is capable of orienting these 

 aggregates, then a substance composed of them will rotate the plane 

 of polarisation of light. 



c< The Pharmacology of Aconitine, Diacetylaconitine, Benza- 

 conine and Aconine considered in Relation to their 

 Chemical Constitution." By J. Theodore Cash, M.D., 

 F.R.S., and Wyndham R. Dunstan, M.A., F.R.S. Re- 

 ceived January 13, — Read February 3, 1898. 



(Abstract.) 



The investigation which is described in the present paper has been 

 carried out with pare specimens of the alkaloids aconitine, aconine, 

 and benzaconine, the chemistry of which has been fully studied since 

 1891, by one of us in conjunction with his assistants and pupils, and 

 forms the subject of numerous papers which have been communicated 

 to the Chemical Society, and printed in the 'Journal of the Chemical 

 Society.'* As these papers contain a full account of the chemical 

 composition and properties of the various aconite alkaloids, it will not 

 be necessary to do more now than summarise for reference the chief 

 properties of the substances employed in this enquiry. 



Aconitine is the poisonous alkaloid contained in Aconitum napellus.f 

 Commercial specimens of aconitine vary considerably, many of them 

 being mixtures. J Until quite recently the pure alkaloid was not an 

 article of commerce. It is a crystalline base, very sparingly soluble 

 in water, but readily dissolved by alcohol. Its alcoholic solution is 

 dextro-rotatory, whilst solutions of its salts are la3vo-rotatory.§ 

 Even very dilute solutions produce a characteristic tingling and 

 numbness on the tongue and lips. The alkaloid suffers decomposi- 

 tion when heated to its melting point ; a molecular proportion of 

 acetic acid is lost, and an alkaloid jpyraconitinc remains. || The 

 hydrolysis of the alkaloid occurs in two stages. In the first, which 

 is best effected by heating a salt of aconitine in a closed tube with 

 water,T a molecular proportion of acetic acid is formed, and an 



* 1 Chem. Soc. Journ.,' 1891—1897. 



t Dunstan and Ince, ' Chem. Soc. Journ.,' 1891, vol. 59, p. 271 ; Dunstan and 

 lonney, ibid., 1892, vol. 61, p. 385. 



X Dunstan and Carr, ' Chem. Soc. Journ.,' 1893, vol. 63, p. 491. 

 § Dunstan and Ince, loc. cit. 

 \\ Dunstan and Carr, ibid., 1894, vol. 65, p. 176. 

 Dunstan and Carr, ibid., vol. 65, p. 290. 



