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PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 
The object of the following remarks is to throw some light on the subject. 
It will suit my purpose better to mention first the physiological action of the drug, 
before I make a few remarks on its histology. Case I.—In the month of November last, 
while I was in attendance on a lady from Fife, I had occasion to have a consultation 
with Professor Simpson relative to her complaint. When Dr. Simpson had carefully 
examined the patient—his diagnosis being neuralgia of the pelvic cellular tissue—he re¬ 
commended me to put her immediately under Cicutine. I spoke to my friend Mr. 
Mackay regarding this new drug. He failed to obtain any of the granules in town, but 
speedily received some from London, or Paris, where the granules are prepared by M. 
Pelletier. I ordered this patient to take three of the granules per day, until she had 
taken some two dozen or more, with the most marked results; nay, let me tell you, her 
own remark was, “ What a wonderful medicine !” This lady was requested to continue 
the same medicine after she went home if the neuralgic pain returned. Let me only 
add, that the pain of which she was relieved was constant and severe. Case II.—The 
next patient for whom I prescribed this medicine was the late Mr. H. He suffered 
for a long time from neuralgia of the extensor muscles of the lower part of the leg. In 
November, 1863, I put him under Cicutine granules, which he continued for a week, by 
which time he was completely relieved of pain, and continued so for four days; but on 
the fifth day the pain returned, and ultimately only yielded to the subcutaneous injec¬ 
tion of morphia, and even that was but temporary, as the disease increased till he died. 
When Dr. Christison saw Mr. H. with me, I told him of the great relief afforded to 
my patient by the use of Cicutine, which led to a conversation regarding this new re¬ 
medial agent. Dr. Christison supposed, at first, that Cicutine was the alkaloid of Cicuta 
virosa , or Water Hemlock, which is not used in medicine, as it is considered a narcotico- 
acrid poison, causing true tetanic convulsions. 
I told him that I understood Cicutine to be the same as Conein. We accordingly 
met the next day and subjected one of the granules to a careful analysis, when Dr. C. 
and I distinctly traced in it the peculiar mousy odour of Conium. This Cicutine, then, 
is Conia, or Conicin, the peculiar alkaloid or active principle of Hemlock. Each granule 
contains -gU of a grain of the alkaloid. 
In Neligan’s ‘ Materia Medica,’ I find a recommendation of Conein in neuralgic affec¬ 
tions, as he has known it alleviate pain in doses of ^ of a grain. 
At page 233 of Dunglison’s Medical Dictionary, I find Cicutine. or Conicine, men¬ 
tioned as the active principle of Conium maculatum , and that either it or its salts have 
been given as sedatives to the nervous centres in neuralgic diseases. 
Mention is also made of Cicutine by Dr. Justus Liebig under Volatile Bases, where he 
says that Conicine, or Cicutine, or Conin, was discovered by Gieseke, but first obtained 
pure by Geiger; that it occurs in Conium maculatum , having a formula of 
and symbol of Co*. It is easily miscible with alcohol or ether. 
I have said that no place has been assigned to Cicutine in the British Pharmacopoeia ; 
I find, nevertheless, that Dr. Garrod, of King’s College, in his last lecture on the British 
Pharmacopoeia has some remarks on Conium maculatum , where he says that it owes its 
activity to its alkaloid Conia. He speaks of the tincture, Succus, but we fail to find any 
remark on the medicinal effect of the pure alkaloid alone. 
I have prescribed Cicutine for many other patients besides the two mentioned, but I 
must refrain from any notice of them, as to the effects of the drug, as there has not 
been sufficient time, and one of the patients I refer to has gone to Dumfries; but I 
considered myself justified, from what we have already seen of this new remedy, in 
bringing it under the notice of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
After some remarks by Mr. Mackay regarding the granules, and British Pharma¬ 
copoeia preparations of Conium, a vote of thanks was proposed by the President to Dr. 
Young, seconded by Mr. Young, and carried with acclamation. 
Mr. Moffat, chemist, Glasgow, was then introduced to the Meeting, and gave a very 
interesting description of the Freshwater Aquarium. His remarks were chiefly confined 
to British plants and fishes, with a view to enable any one who was so disposed to get up, 
with comparatively little trouble, such an aquarium as would be highly interesting. 
Referring to the provisions of nature for keeping up a true balance between animal and 
vegetable life, he illustrated this part of his subject both by experiment and diagram. 
