§ 732-] 
OXALIC BASES. 
553 
CERTAIN OXALIC BASES—OXALMETHYLINE—OXALPROPYLINE. 
§ 732. Hugh Schulz 1 and Mayer have contributed the results of some important 
researches bearing upon a more exact knowledge of the effects of the oxalic group of 
poisons, and upon the relation between chemical constitution and physiological effects. 
They experimented upon oxalmethyline , chloroxalmethyline, and oxalpropyline. 
Chloroxalmethyline (C 6 H 5 C1N 2 ) is a liquid, boiling at 205°, with a weakly narcotic 
smell. A solution of the hydrochloride of the base was employed. Subcutaneous 
injections of -05 grm. into frogs caused narcosis, and both this and the ethylic com¬ 
pound deranged the heart’s action, decreasing the number of beats. Thus -05 grm. 
decreased the number of the beats of the heart of a frog in the course of one and 
three-quarter hours as follows : 72, 60, 56, 50, 44, 40, 35, 0. 
Oxalmethyline produces somewhat similar symptoms, but the nervous system is 
more affected than in that which contains chlorine. 
Oxalpropyline also causes narcosis, and afterwards paralysis of the hinder entremities 
and slowing of the heart. 
The differences between the chlorine-free and the chlorine-containing oxalic bases 
are summarised as follows :— 
FROGS. 
Chlorine-Holding Bases. Chlorine-Free Bases. 
Notable narcosis ; no heightened reflex Narcosis occurs late, and is little pro¬ 
action, muscular cramps, nor spontaneous nounced ; a notable increase of reflex ex¬ 
convulsions. citability ; more and more muscular para¬ 
lysis ; between times, muscular cramps. 
CATS. 
Notable narcosis and salivation ; no Great excitement; general shivering, 
mydriasis ; convulsions and paralysis ; no rising to pure clonic convulsions ; para- 
change in the respirations. lysis of the hind legs ; notable mydriasis, 
jerking, and superficial respiration ; weak 
narcosis. 
DOGS. 
Notable narcosis; occasional vomiting ; Narcosis evident; the rest as in cats, 
the rest as in cats. 
1 “ Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Wirkung der Oxalbasen auf den Thierkorper,” 
Arch. f. exper. Path. u. Pharm., 1882. 
