130 



Scientific Proceedings (66). 



weeks of gestation. Two cases were at about the third month. 



It is perhaps scarcely necessary to point out that, as compared 

 with Abderhalden's delicate and complicated serum test for 

 pregnancy, this method is both simple and expeditious. 



77 (1009) 



The influence of chenopodium on the circulation and respiration. 

 By William Salant and A. E. Livingston. 



[From the Pharmacological Laboratory, Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C] 



The intravenous injection of one to two per cent, emulsions 

 indicates that the oil of chenopodium is a circulatory, as well as a 

 respiratory depressant. Blood pressure fell after a dose of 0.02 

 c.c. per kilo was introduced into rabbits, cats and dogs, but the 

 absolute, as well as the relative effect, varied in different indi- 

 viduals. While large doses produced a greater fall of blood pres- 

 sure this was not always in proportion to the size of the dose. 

 The volume of the kidney followed closely the blood pressure, 

 thus indicating that the effect on the latter is of cardiac origin. 

 That chenopodium is a cardiac depressant was also shown in 

 experiments on the isolated frog heart. A solution of 1 : 2,000, 

 of chenopodium, or its active principle, ascaridole, perfused for 

 one to two minutes, caused a marked decrease of force, as well 

 as frequency of cardiac action which was not always observed, 

 however, when the perfusion time was reduced to half a minute 

 only. It was frequently absent after the initial perfusion and 

 sometimes when this was repeated once or twice after suitable 

 intervals, but depression of the heart was usually produced when 

 a sufficient number of perfusions were made in each case. Cardiac 

 irritability after vagus stimulation which was tested in dogs was 

 found to be decreased after chenopodium. 



The action of chenopodium on respiration varied in different 

 animals, being less effective in rabbits than in cats or dogs. Small 

 doses, about 0.02 c.c. per kilo may produce respiratory depression 

 in all animals. In some experiments the effect was observed after 



