201 
of Edinburgh, Session 1878 - 79 . 
for that purpose specimens of dry broken leaves of the plant, in 
the form in which it is used by the natives, and also a small 
quantity of watery extract. 
After describing its use by the natives of Australia, the author 
advanced reasons in support of Yon Mueller’s opinion, that Pituri 
is obtained from Duboisia Hopwoodii , and that this plant should 
be placed in the Solanaceae. 
By a modification of Sta’s process for the separation of alkaloids, 
he obtained from the extract an active principle in the form of a 
pale, yellowish-brown, alkaline fluid, freely soluble in water, alcohol, 
ether, chloroform, amylic alcohol and benzole ; of a greater specific 
gravity than that of water ; and possessing a burning alkaline 
taste, and an odour resembling that of both conia and nicotia. A 
solution in water of this alkaloid and of its hydrochlorate gave 
precipitates with bichloride of platinum, solution of iodine in 
iodide of potassium, iodide of mercury and potassium, iodide of 
cadmium and potassium, iodide of potassium and bismuth, picric 
acid, bromine water, perchloride of mercury, trichloride of gold, 
and other re-agents, and several of the precipitates were crystalline. 
Strong solution of the hydrochlorate gave precipitates with potash 
and soda. 
The chemical characters suggested a close resemblance between 
pituria and nicotia, which was supported by the examination of the 
physiological action. The extract and active principle act as local 
irritants, and produce death mainly by rendering the respiration 
difficult or impossible. The circulation is, however, also affected, 
the strength of the cardiac systole being at first increased and after- 
wards diminished. It was also found that the cardio-inhibitory 
fibres of the vagus are at first stimulated and then paralysed ; that 
the arterial blood-pressure is at first increased and then greatly 
diminished ; and that, in frogs, the peripheral terminations of the 
motor nerves are paralysed, and the cutaneous pigment becomes 
diffused. Contraction of the pupils occurs before death. 
When either the extract or active principle is applied directly 
to the eye-ball, irritation with increased lachrymation is produced, 
and the pupil becomes for a short time contracted, and afterwards 
dilated. The last effect was not observed with a specimen of 
nicotia in the author’s possession, and, accordingly, a doubt is 
