209 



Some of these groups include a still larger number of separate con- 

 stituents Are these constituents no factor in the influence of the 

 drug upon the organism ? The physiological action of the drug, as re- 

 ported by a host of observers, is far different from that of caffeine or 

 any drug of the caffeine group. One record of observations, showing its 

 influence upon muscular contractions, shows that caffeine acts upon the 

 height of the contraction. The action of cafferine increases these, but 

 the effect is of short duration, the amplitude being very restricted. 

 The muscle is exhausted as rapidly, even more so than in the normal 

 sta f e. 



The drug kola acts upon the number and intensity of the contrac- 

 tions. The duration of the contractions is greater, the amplitude is 

 larger and longer sustained. The decrease which follows is in a very 

 regular progression. (DuBoise.) 



Dr. H. Marie has shown, by a series of comparative tracings that 

 with caffeine the starting contractions are very elevating, but there is a 

 sudden fall reaching below the starting point ; while with kola there is 

 a gradual elevation, which is continued until the drug begins to lose its 

 influence, when the descent is very regular and gradual to the normal 

 point. It is characteristic of caffeine and of other stimulating drugs 

 that there is a depressing action, but there is none with kola. This 

 has been verified by Drs. Smith and Leuf. who, in connection with Dr. 

 Woodbury, recently made some interesting studies of this drug. A 

 series of sphygmograph tracings made by them show an undoubted in- 

 crease of the pulse and heart action, with no reaction thereafter. Thus 

 we can see that the free alkaloids by no means account for the full 

 value of the drug. The action of the other constituents, save one or 

 two, has been barely touched upon. The essential oil has been defined 

 as a tonic of the generative organs. Whatever action or influences lie 

 in the substances grouped under the head of resinous matter and fatty 

 bodies, etc., at present are unknown. In the light of pharmacology, 

 one constituent, however, seems to be far superior in power and action 

 to that of the other alkaloids, and gives the drug its place and rank. 

 It is the substance termed kolanin. Observers have reported that this 

 substance separated from the drug (containing, of course, no free alka- 

 loids) "in very small amounts, increases the intensity and duration of 

 the muscular contractions." The amplitude of the contractions is pre- 

 served longer than with the drug itself. The conservation of the mus- 

 cular energy is in marked comrast with that of the alkaloids separated 

 from the drug, exercising a well-defined action peculiar to itself. Dr. 

 Edouard Heckel strongly reiterates and produces a vast amount of tes- 

 timony as to the marked difference and superiority between the action 

 of kolanin and that of the free alkaloids from the drug, and of the 

 other substances of this class Several other observations made re- 

 cently in this country show a very marked action of this drug after ex- 

 haustion of all the free alkaloids. By so far all our studies upon this 

 plant and those of its class have given but a feebl^ light upon their 

 whole nature. There are still formidable difficulties to surmount be- 

 fore we can say we have reached the ultimate truth. 



Among the many problems that arise, may we not rightly ask that 



