miscellanea. 519 
It is practically difficult to distinguish between 9 ij. and 5 SS., and it takes up a good 
deal of calculation to make up odd numbers of grains. 
A box of good chemical grain-weights, on the contrary, has them in regular sets of 
four, out of which any combination can be made immediately by the simplest process of 
addition. The grain weights are made of wire, bent in such a way that each gives its 
value at a glance. 
The highest set of weights, for hundreds of grains, is—GOO, 300, 200, 100. The next, 
for tens—60, 30, 20 , 10. The third, for grains (of platinum wire)—G, 3, 2, 1. The 
fourth, for tenths (of platinum wire)—' 6 , ‘3, *2, T. Hundredths may be had in gold 
wire, but are not necessary, and tenths can seldom be wanted in dispensing. 
; It may be seen at a glance, first, that the series of “ tens of grains” harmonizes with 
?]•> 5 ss -> 3j., and 9ss., if any one loves the old system and chooses to use it. Secondly, 
that out of the above numbers any intermediate number can be formed. And it may be 
added, thirdly, that the custom of putting weights into the scale-pan in regular order is 
useful, like all other chemical processes, as a means of teaching exactness and order.— 
Medical Times and Gazette. 
MISCELLANEA. 
New Alkaloid from the Calabar Bean.—Messrs. Jobst and Hesse, of Stutt- 
gardt, have instituted a chemical examination of the Calabar bean. They found the 
active principle to be contained in the cotyledons only. It was obtained by treating the 
beans with alcohol, and then acting by means of ether on the residue left after evapora¬ 
tion of the alcoholic solution. The ethereal solution after evaporation left pure physo- 
stiymine. Physostigmine is a brownish-yellow mass, amorphous, and in the first instance 
separated in the form of oily drops. It is easily soluble in ammonia, caustic and carbo¬ 
nated soda, ether, benzole, and alcohol; less soluble in cold water. From the ethereal 
solution it is entirely precipitated by animal charcoal. The watery solution has a faintly 
burning taste, a clearly alkaline reaction ; it gives a copious kenues-coloured precipitate 
with biniodide of potassium, and a precipitate of hydrated oxide in solution of chloride 
of iron ; fused with hydrate of potash, it evolves fumes which have a strongly alkaline 
reaction. Acids dissolve it easily, and yield solutions of salts, which have mostly a dark 
red, more rarely a dark blue, colour. The hydrochlorate of physostigmine yields precipi¬ 
tates, with tannic acid, reddish-white ; chloride of platinum, pale yellow ; chloride of 
gold, bluish—a reduction taking place ; bichloride of mercury, reddish-white. Twenty- 
one beans yielded only a little alkaloid. Two drops of a watery solution of the alkaloid 
placed on the eye caused the pupil to contract, after ten minutes, to about one-twentieth 
of its original diameter. In this condition it remained for an hour; after from four to 
six hours it had again assumed its former size. Taken internally, physostigmine is as 
poisonous as the most dangerous cyanides. The alkaloid from one bean was given to a 
rabbit ; five minutes afterwards it fell, remained motionless, and died twenty-five 
minutes later, or half an hour after the taking of the poison. Physostigmine causes 
contraction of the iris, even in the eye of an animal which has already been dead for 
some time. A rabbit’s eye, treated with two drops of watery solution an hour after the 
animal had been killed mechanically, showed a contraction of the pupil to one-fourth of 
the other eye. A rabbit killed with physostigmine did not show this feature ; but it 
was exhibited to a small degree by one which had been killed by cyanide of potassium. 
This shows that muscles, though dead, are yet liable to be influenced specifically, and 
not only by the galvanic current, but also by physostigmine.— Ann. Chem. und Pharm ., 
Jan. 1864, and British Medical Journal. 
The Calabar Bean.—We learn from the ‘ Medical Times and Gazette,’January 
16, that this agent has now found its way into the general hospitals, as a remedy in cer¬ 
tain nervous affections. There is an interesting case of chorea in University College 
Hospital, a girl, aged eleven years, under the care of Dr. Harley. The commencing dose 
was one grain of the powdered bean, which was gradually increased to three grains three 
times a day, and even six grains was given for a dose once a day. The only disagreeable 
effects appear to have been occasional brief attacks of colic, and once or twice slight 
vomiting. The heart’s action was greatly accelerated. The dose for an adult is stated 
by Dr. Harley to be three to six grains. 
