RED-SQUIIiL POWDERS AS RATICIDES 
33 
extract and the residue were nontoxic, showing that the active prin- 
ciple is totally destroyed by this treatment. 
Table 15 shows the yield, the lethal doses, and the proportion of 
toxic principle from the original powder that appeared in the various 
extracts and in the residues. 
Table 15. — Effect of method of extraction on yield and toxicity of squill 
Method of extraction 
Solvent used 
Yield 
Minimum lethal 
dose 
Total toxicity 
Solid 
extract 
Resi- 
due 
Solid 
extract 
Resi- 
due 
Solid 
extract 
Resi- 
due 
Original powder. 
Per cent 
Per cent 
100 
81.5 
17.4 
55.7 
86.0 
98.7 
98.7 
Alg. per 
kg. of body 
weight 
Mg. per 
kg. of body 
weight 
500 
Per cent 
Per cent 
100 
Tercolation 
Water... 
18.5 
82.6 
44.3 
14.0 
1.3 
1.3 
1,500 
5,000+ 
3,500 
200 
6.2 
0.8- 
6.3 
35.0 
Exhaustion 
do 
5, 000+ 
4,000+ 
5, 000+ 
750 
625 
1.7- 
7.0- 
8.6- 
66.0 
80.0 
Soxhlet 
do 
Do 
Do 
Alcohol (95 per cent) 
Acetone . 
Do 
Chloroform 
Exhaustion with water on the steam bath, or in a Soxhlet thimble 
at 100° C, caused almost total destruction of the toxic principle in 
the extracts as well as in the residues. As dry heat at 100° C. did 
not appear to cause any decrease in toxicity, it seems evident that 
this loss in potency is related to the hydrolysis of the toxic glucoside. 
The alcoholic residue was nontoxic, and the acetone and choroform 
residues were somewhat less potent than the original powder. Even 
though the boiling point of each of these three solvents is less than 
80°, it seems that any method of extraction tried caused some destruc- 
tion of the toxic principle. The alcoholic extract possessed one-third 
the activity of the original powder. 
Apparently the toxic principle of red squill is soluble in alcohol, 
but not in water, acetone, or chloroform. Water and alcohol extracted 
appreciable quantities of mucilage and reducing sugars. Extraction 
of the toxic principle suggests itself in the study of the chemistry of 
the active principle. It seems evident, however, that the cost of 
undertaking this on a commercial scale would far outweigh any pos- 
sible benefit of marketing a more toxic preparation. Therefore no 
further experiments in this direction were conducted, 
SUGGESTED METHOD OF PREPARATION OF TOXIC SQUILL POWDERS 
Based upon the results obtained during a 3-year series of experi- 
ments in the manufacture of red-squill powders, the following method 
is offered as furnishing the most toxic product : ^ 
Remove the outer dry husks from fresh red-squill bulbs obtained as soon as 
feasible after digging, and slice the bulbs transversely into sections one-fourth 
to one-half inch thick. Place the sliced composite as soon as possible in a drj-ing 
oven, which has been previously heated to 80° C., and dry to constant weight 
at that temperature. Grind the dried material so that it will pass through a 
40-mesh sieve. Pack the powder in hermetically sealed containers. 
7 It is possible that other manufacturing conditions might yield products of equal toxicity. 
