A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL 
ACTIONS OF SPARTEINE. 
BY DAVID CERNA, M.D., PH.D. 
Demonstrator of Physiology and Lecturer on the History of Medicine in the Medical 
Department of the University of Texas , etc. 
Bead December 16 , 1893. 
Sparteine is an alkaloidal substance obtained from the common broom 
plant, the cytisus scoparius , or the sarothamnus (?) scoparius. Sparteine 
is represented by this chemical formula: C 15 H 26 N 2 . The alkaloid ap¬ 
peal’s as an oily, volatile, unstable liquid, with a penetrating odor resem¬ 
bling that of pyridin, and has a decided bitter taste. It melts at 550.4°F 
(288°C). The salts of sparteine are readily soluble in water, alcohol, 
ether, and chloroform. The sulphate is a crystalline salt of a pale greenish 
color. 
Though somewhat largely used in practical medicine, sparteine has not 
been investigated physiologically to any very considerable extent. The 
drug has been studied by Mitchell who, according to Husemannt, quoted 
by H. C. Wood+, states that four grains of it produced in a rabbit a brief 
period of excitement, followed by sleep, and death in the course of three 
hours. Similar results were obtained by Schroff according to Wood§. 
De Rymon|| Grief ^[, and Gluzinski* * § ** noticed also two periods of poison¬ 
ing under the influence of sparteine; one of excitability, followed by one 
of depression. All of these three authors likewise hold that the alkaloid 
diminishes the irritability of the muscular fiber, but without destroying 
the functional activity of the muscles. Ficktt, in corroboration of 
Mitchell’s experience, affirms that sparteine acts as a narcotic, and that 
the drug, further, paralyzes both the motor nerves and the spinal cord. 
On the other hand, Wood+J quotes Legris as saying that twenty-five cen- 
t “ Planzenstoffe.” 
f “ Therapeutics; Its Principles and Practice;” Edition of 1891. 
§ Ibid. 
|| These , 1880. 
1 These , Lyon, 1887. 
** Deutch. Archiv. Kli. Medicin., XLIV, 1884. 
ft Archiv.f. Experiment Path. ?t. Pharmacol , 18S7. 
\%Loc. Citat. 
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