338 Drs. V. H. Veley and A. D. Waller. Action of [Feb. 22, 



A comparative experiment in which nf20 and 7i/40 solutions of pyridine 

 and picoline were alternately applied several times to the same muscle, 

 showed that there was no appreciable difference between the toxic effect of 

 these two bases. 



We assign the following order of molecular toxicity to these bases, viz., 

 nicotine = 100, piperidine = 50, pyridine = 10, picoline = 10. 



The toxicity of nicotine as compared with that of some other of the poisons 

 that we have examined during the past year can be appreciated from the 

 following numbers, which denote relative molecular toxicity as estimated by 

 experiments on the sartorius muscle : — 



Aconitine 1000 Caffeine 12 



Quinine 100 Chloroform 6 



Nicotine 33 Ether 072 



Theobromine 18 Alcohol 0 06 



Thus, e.g., molecule for molecule, the power of nicotine is about 1/3 that of 

 quinine (or, weight for weight, about 2/3). 



Curcire and Cifrarijic— As regards curare and its action upon muscle we 

 made some preliminary experiments, partly for the purpose of meeting an 

 objection made to us that our effects as regards muscle might in part be end- 

 plate effects, but principally in order to see whether curare in weak solution 

 acts directly upon muscle, and to learn whether such action, if present, could 

 be taken as an indication of the specific power of curare tested in the usual 

 way by injection. 



We compared two samples of curare. The first, a commercial curare of 

 good repute and price (lO.s. per gramme), but relatively inactive ; the second 

 a lal)oratory ])roparation of curarine iodide, CiiiH2.^N2< that was given to 

 one of us several years ago by Prof. Boehni, and had been prepared by him 

 from the last consignment of genuine " calabash curare " that was imported 

 into Europe.f This preparation, which is the only derivative of curare 

 exliibiting a crystalline character, lias, according to P>oehni, the fornuda 

 C)(»H2.^N20.T ; his iuialyses alforded Uk; following average jjercentage : 

 C = 53-3o ; H = 5-Sf> : N = 6-17 ; 1 = 30-08. 



The relative specific powers of the two preparations may be gathered from 

 the following comparison : a pipette full (0'3 c.c.) of 1-per-cent. solution of 



* 1{. Bocliiii, "(Jnrare in clieinisulicr imd ))liiii iiiaki)l(jiriH(;licr I'x'zioliiinu;," ' Ahli. d. iiuitli.- 

 phys. CI. d. KoniK'- Siiclmischen Ges. d. Wi.sH., Leipzig,' vol. 2'-2, 1875, ' Das Tul)()-( Iiirare ' ; 

 vol. 24, 1897, " Das Calabaflseii (Jiiraro," "J>as Tojjfcnraro." 



+ TliiH Htateiiieiit is made on the authority of a Htatement made to me by I'lof. ijoelim. 

 onMan li30, 1!)01. A. 1). W. 



