378 



Prof. J. T. Cash and Mr. W. E. Dunstan. 



gested for lotusin, are, like lotusin, easily decomposed by dilute 

 hydrochloric acid, forming prussic acid and the corresponding aldehyde 

 or ketone. 



The authors wish again to express their obligations to Mr. Ernest 

 A. Floyer, of Cairo, Member of the Egyptian Institute, who has spared 

 neither trouble nor expense in collecting in Egypt, and despatching to 

 this country, the material required for this investigation. 



" The Pharmacology of Pseudaconitine and Japaconitine considered 

 in relation to that of Aconitine." By J. Theodore Cash, M.D., 

 F.E.S., Eegius Professor of Materia Medica in the University 

 of Aberdeen, and Wyndham E. Dunstan, M.A., F.E.S., 

 Director of the Scientific Department of the Imperial Insti- 

 tute. Eeceived June 11 — Eead June 20, 1901. 



(Abstract.) 



In a previous paper on the Pharmacology of Aconitine and some 

 of its principal derivatives,* we have given an account of the physio- 

 logical action of this, the highly toxic alkaloid of Monkshood (Aconitum 

 Napellus), and of its principal derivatives, and we have also discussed 

 the ascertained physiological effects of these substances in relation to 

 their chemical constitution. The results of this investigation have 

 proved to be of much practical importance in connection with the 

 pharmaceutical and medical employment of aconite, especially in 

 demonstrating the partial antagonism to aconitine of benzaconine, and 

 in a greater degree of aconine, both of which derivatives accompany 

 the parent alkaloid in the plant and in the pharmaceutical preparations 

 made from it, which have been hitherto used medicinally. Although it 

 seems likely that these separate alkaloids, and especially aconine, may 

 be useful as therapeutic agents, it is now clear that for the purpose for 

 which aconite is employed, the pure alkaloid, aconitine, should be used 

 in the place of the indefinite mixture of physiologically antagonistic 

 alkaloids contained in pharmaceutical preparations made from the 

 plant. 



In a series of papers communicated to the Chemical Society, and 

 published in the ' Journal of the Chemical Society' (1891-99), one of 

 us, in conjunction with his pupils, has described the chemical properties 

 of the toxic alkaloid contained in two other species of alkaloid, viz., 

 Aconitum ferox or Indian or Nepaul Aconite, and Aconitum Fischeri or 

 Japanese Aconite. The medicinal employment of these potent drugs 



* ' Phil. Trans.,' B, 1898, vol 190, p. 239. 



