TUTIN—CORIAMYRTIN. 
§§ 612 - 614 .] 
479 
after the event, any pathological signs found are scarcely a guide for 
future cases. 
§ 612. Physiological Action. —The convulsions are considered to 
arise from an excitation of the medulla oblongata ; the vagus centre is 
stimulated, and causes spasm of the glottis and slowing of the heart’s 
action during the attack. Rohrig also saw strong contraction of the 
uterus produced by picrotoxin. According to the researches of Crichton 
Browne, chloral hydrate acts in antagonism to picrotoxin, and prevents the 
convulsions in animals if the dose of picrotoxin is not too large. 
§ 613. Separation from Organic Matters.— Picrotoxin is extracted 
from aqueous acid solutions by either chloroform**, amyl alcohol, or ether ; 
the first is the most convenient. Benzene does not extract it, if employed 
in the same manner. On evaporation of the solvent the crude picrotoxin 
can be crystallised out of water, and its properties examined. 
R. Palm 1 has taken advantage of the fact that picrotoxin forms a 
stable compound with freshly precipitated lead hydroxide, by applying 
this property as follows :—The solution supposed to contain picrotoxin 
is evaporated to dryness, and the extract then taken up in a very little 
water, acidified and shaken out with ether. The ether is evaporated, 
the ethereal extract dissolved in a little water, the aqueous solution 
filtered through animal charcoal, and precipitated by means of lead 
acetate, avoiding excess. The solution is filtered, and shaken with freshly 
prepared lead hydroxide. The lead hydroxide is dried and tested direct 
for picrotoxin ; if it does contain picrotoxin, then, on adding to it con¬ 
centrated H 2 S0 4 , a beautiful saffron-yellow is produced, as bright as if 
the substance was pure picrotoxin. 
V.—Tutin—Coriamyrtin. 
§ 614. There are three species of Coriaria in New Zealand— C. sar- 
mentosa, C. aborea, and C. Tutu ; the latter is commonly known as the 
tree toot. From the New Zealand plants Easterfield and Aston 2 have 
separated a crystalline non-nitrogenous glucoside, tutin, very nearly 
allied to a glucoside previously separated from the European species by 
Ribau, and named by him coriamyrtin. 
The chemical differences between these two principles are as follows:— 
Tutin. 
Cj 7 H 20 O 7 . 
Coriamyrtin. 
CisHisCV 
Solubility in 100 parts of water 
1-8 at 10 ° 
144 at 22° 
,, in 100 parts of alcohol 
8-2 at 16° 
2-00 at 22 ° 
Reaction with HI followed by 
Nil 
Magenta colour 
potash. 
Concentrated H 2 S0 4 
Blood-red colour 
Dirty yellow 
Subliming point 
About 120° 
About 150° 
1 J. Pharm. (5), xvii. 19-20. 2 Easterfield and Aston. Journ. Chem. Soc., T., 1901. 
