Cinnamein, Benzyl Succinate and Nitrite. 177 



reduced by the arrangement of the observing post at the ends 

 of two almost parallel troughs. The reaction of a fish to currents 

 of water has also been considered in furnishing it control and 

 experimental flows close together. 



5. Habit formation has been studied by changing the control 

 to the experimental trough after a series of trials with any of the 

 substances. 



87 (1669) 



Pharmacological examination of cinnamein, benzyl succinate and 



benzyl nitrite. 



By DAVID I. MACHT. 



[From the Pharmacological Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University.] 



The discovery of the interest'ng pharmacological properties of 

 benzyl benzoate and benzyl acetate first announced by the author 

 in these Proceedings and the widespread therapeutic use of benzyl 

 benzoate which immediately followed it, has naturally stimulated^ 

 various observers to search for other benzyl compounds which 

 might be available for clinical w T ork. A number of such compounds 

 have been since described, but none of these to the author's 

 knowledge possessed together the two characteristics of benzyl 

 benzoate, namely simplicity of chemical structure and efficiency 

 of pharmacological action. The present author has also examined 

 a number of benzyl preparations and found a majority of these 

 unimportant in comparison with the original drug. In the present 

 communication, however, it is proposed to describe briefly three 

 benzyl preparations which have more than scientific interest in 

 as much as at least two of these may be suitable for therapeutic 

 application in special cases. 



Benzyl benzoate is a synthetic compound, but is also found in 

 nature and it has been suggested that for the production of the 

 benzyl effect Cinnamein might be used. Cinnamein is a mixture 

 of esters, alcohols and other substances obtained from the balsams 

 of Peru and Tolu. Among these are benzyl benzoate and benzyl 

 cuinamate. Cinnamein is a drug possessing a pleasant aromatic 

 odor and bitterish taste and is anesthetic to the tongue and lips. 



