Tang Kuet 



395 



It is evident that when given a choice of temperature and 

 light combinations, the fish used is influenced somewhat by the 

 attractiveness of light, even toward water much warmer than the 

 optimum at the season. It is also evident that responses to light 

 in fish are not remarkably accelerated by water warmed as much 

 as 10 degrees above the normal of 20. SC. at the time these ex- 

 periments were made. 



Abstracts of Communications. 

 Peking Branch. 

 Second meeting. 



Peking, China, March 7, 1923. 



192 (2152) 



The pharmacology of Tang Kuei. 



By B. E. READ and CARL F. SCHMIDT. 



[From the Laboratory of Pharmacology of Peking Union Medical 

 College, Peking, China.] 



Tang Kuei, identified by E. H. Holmes as the root of Angelica 

 Anomala, var. Chinensis, is used in native medicine in the treat- 

 ment of menstrual and puerperal disorders and sterility in 

 women, being sold as thin slices of a woody root, having a 

 sweetish taste and an aromatic odor. It is on the western market 

 under the name of "Eumenol." Previous investigators 1, 2 as- 

 cribed its action to volatile ingredients, being unable to isolate 

 from it an alkaloid, glucoside, or other active principle. 



A simple extract of the drug, injected intravenously in 

 anesthetized dogs, uniformly caused: (a) marked circulatory 

 depression; (b) prolonged and striking diuresis; (c) contrac- 

 tion of uterine, bladder and intestinal muscle. 



After removal of volatile material by distillation, the residue 

 was still effective; the distillate sometimes caused contraction of 

 uterus or gut, but large doses were required. 



1 Buffalini, Annali di farmacologia, 1900, 140. 



2 Sakai, Tokyo IgdkeeTcai ZossJii, 1916, xxx, 19. 



