1893.] 



a Research on their Pharmacology. 



399 



For example 



CH 3 CH 3 



i i 

 CH CH 2 



ii n 

 NOH ONO 



Ethylaldoxiine. Ethyl nitrite. 



It is this larger group, C~N*OH, which has been called the 

 " oximido- " group. 



The ultimate object of this research was to correlate this structural 

 relationship with the pharmacology of these bodies, and to discover 

 how far they may possess any pharmacological type which can be 

 isolated and referred to the presence of the group IZlN'OH. 



Representative members were selected for pharmacological in- 

 vestigation from several series of the oximido- bodies. From the 

 fatty aldoximes were taken — ethylaldoxime, propylaldoxime, isobutyl- 

 aldoxime and oananthaldoxime ; acetoxime was chosen to represent 

 the kefcoximes ; isonitrosoacetone to represent the isonitrosoketones ; 

 benzaldoxime and salicylaldoxime to represent the aromatic bodies. 

 I had previously- investigated the pharmacology of quinonoxime 

 (paranitrosophenol, C 6 H 4 *ONOH). 



It may be said at once that the physiological actions of these sub- 

 stances recall in many points the properties of nitrites. When 

 oxidised at the body temperature decomposition takes place, and very 

 soon the presence of a nitrite can be demonstrated. 



This decomposition consists essentially in the separation of 

 hydroxylamine from an aldehyde or ketone. In other cases the in- 

 termediate production of hydroxylamine has not been proved, but an 

 immediate oxidation of the whole molecule and severance of nitrous 

 acid has appeared possible. 



Before analysing the experimental results of the actions of these 

 oximido-bodies, it was necessary to define the actions of their 

 corresponding aldehydes and ketones. 



Ethylaldehyde, CH 3 -COH. 

 Propylaldehyde, CH 3 -CH 2 :COH. 

 Isobutylaldehyde, (CH 3 ) 2 -CH-COH. 

 Heptylicaldehyde, C 6 H 13 *COH. 



The action of these fatty aldehydes on voluntary muscle is chiefly 

 evidenced in two ways — contracture and loss of irritability and con- 

 tractility. A primary stimulation is always seen in observations 

 with minimal stimuli, but becomes more and more transient in 

 equivalent dilutions as the series of aldehydes is ascended. 



In muscle tracings a primary increased range of contraction is 



