groups  of  the  drug.  This  theory  may  be  applied  to  the  action  of 
aniline  dyes  upon  trypanosomes.  In  this  case  the  labile  aldehyde 
groups  of  the  protoplasm  of  the  trypanosome  may  combine  with  the 
amino  group  of  the  drug.  Gabntschewsky*  explains  in  a  similar  way 
the  slight  neutralising  action  of  fuchsm  and  vesuvin  if  brought  in 
contact  with  toxins. 
ANTIMONY  COMPOUNDS 
Phmmer  and  Thompson!  were  the  first  to  introduce  antimony  m 
the  treatment  of  experimental  Trypanosomiasis.  Their  results  were 
encouraging.  These  good  results,  however,  have  not  been  fully 
confirmed  by  other  workers.  Phmmer  and  Thompson  used  sodium, 
potassium  and  lithium  salts  of  antimonyl  tartrate.  On  considering 
the  chemical  constitution  of  these  compounds,  it  is  apparent  that  they 
were  not,  m  fact,  dealing  with  an  organic  compound  of  Antimony,  but 
only  with  an  alcoholate  of  tartaric  acid  (Formula  I)  and  antimonic 
oxide. 
Antimonyl  tartrate  has  the  following  constitution  (Formula  11). 
The  antimonic  oxide  m  this  case  is  not  in  an  aromatic  chain  as  the 
arsenic  m  Atoxyl,  but  forms  only  an  alcoholic  salt  similar  to  sodium  m 
a  phenolate  (Formula  III). 
COOH 
^  CHOH 
CHOH 
COOH 
The  action  of  sodium  antimonyl  tartrate  is  an  antimonic  action 
pure  and  simple.  On  injection,  dissociation  of  the  compound  into 
sodium,  tartaric  acid,  and  antimonic  oxide  takes  place,  the  latter  of 
which  acts  destructively  on  the  parasites.  A  similar  process  takes 
place  on  mixing  the  compound  with  infected  blood,  even  in  the 
dilution  of  I  :  40,000  the  trypanosomes  are  immobilized  in  a  few 
minutes.! 
Vol.  de  Pharmakodynamie  et  de  Therapie, 
U’limmer  and  Thompson.  Proc.  of  the  Roy.  Soc.  B.,  Vol.  80,  1907. 
1909^  p!^°48^^^  Rodham.  Iravaux  du  laboratoire  medical  de  Leopoldville,  III, 
IE 
COOH 
CHOH 
CHOSb 
COOH 
nr 
>'ONa 
