14 7 
1919-20.] The Harmala Alkaloids in Malaria. 
(per kilogramme for laboratory animals), the dosage used of quinine was 
seven and a half times that of harmaline. 
One conclusion can be fairly drawn, and that is that harmaline is a 
remedy of some value for malaria ; and this conclusion is at least of academic 
interest as substantiating a hypothesis in regard to therapeutic use based 
entirely on pharmacological evidence. The use of quinine has centuries of 
clinical experience behind it, and even yet there is disagreement as to how 
best to obtain the maximum curative effects from it ; so that a new remedy 
requires an extended trial before it is possible to compare its therapeutic 
value with that of quinine. Three points deserve to be further investi- 
gated:— Is harmaline of value as an adjuvant to quinine ? Is harmaline of 
value in types of malaria which quinine fails to cure ? What effect has 
harmine on malaria ? 
Harmaline has the formula C ]3 H 14 N 2 0, and harmine C 13 H 12 N 2 0. They 
are closely related chemically and pharmacologically. One would expect 
them to have similar effects in malaria, though either might easily be con- 
siderably more effective than the other. Harmine is only about half as 
toxic as harmaline, so that a larger dose of it could be given. During the 
war Lt.-Col. Marshall had charge of a large number of malarial cases, 
and he offered to try harmine in some of them. The supply of the alkaloid 
was limited. His report on the cases follows. 
B.— HARMINE IN MALARIA. (D. G. Marshall.) 
“In November 1918 Professor Gunn kindly sent me some harmine for 
experimental work in cases of malaria. Unfortunately, the supply of the 
drug was small, and consequently the observations were somewhat restricted. 
It was decided to employ harmine to determine its efficacy, as compared 
with quinine, on two lines : (a) its power to cut short acute attacks, and 
( b ) its power to prevent relapses. 
“ (a) In all acute cases where it was employed it proved ineffectual, and 
quinine had to be substituted. 
“(b) The results here were more satisfactory. Three cases were 
selected for trial. In all of them quinine with arsenic had been admini- 
stered in full doses but had failed to prevent relapses. One was benign 
tertian, one mixed infection (benign tertian and malignant), the third 
malignant. 
“ 1st case. T. H., benign tertian, had suffered five severe relapses between 
February and June (126 days). The administration of harmine was com- 
menced on the 7th July, and he was kept under observation for 84 days. 
