Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
September,  1910.  j 
Ergoxanthe'in. 
415 
appearance  is  that  shown  in  dilute  solutions ;  in  concentrated  solu- 
tions the  absorption  is  complete  from  the  D.  line  to  the  end. 
In  connection  with  this  subject  it  should  be  stated  that  Dragen- 
dorfT  and  Podwyssotzki's  scleroxanthein,  fusco  sclerotinic  acid 
scleroerithrin,  and  sclerojodin  belong  to  the  analogous  series  of 
ergot  pigments.  They  are  characterized  by  forming  color-combina- 
tions with  alkalies.  They  are  with  the  exception  of  scleroxanthein 
soluble  in  strong  alcohol  only,  and  therefore  do  not  appear  as  con- 
stituents of  the  official  fluidextract  on  account  of  their  insolubility 
in  the  menstruum  used  in  its  preparation :  scleroxanthein  being  the 
exception.  As  the  following  data  will  show  scleroxanthein  and 
ergoxanthe'in  have  nothing  in  common. 
Scleroxanthein  is  a  crystalline  substance.  It  is  soluble  in  alco- 
hol, and  soluble  in  water.  When  its  solution  is  treated  with  ferric 
chloride  it  is  first  colored  violet,  then  changed  to  blood  red. 
On  the  other  hand,  ergoxanthe'in  is  very  soluble  in  alcohol,  but 
insoluble  in  water.  When  its  solution  is  treated  with  ferric  chloride, 
instead  of  violet  or  red,  the  yellow  color  is  changed  to  a  dark  amber. 
ON  THE  PHYSIOLOGIC  ACTION  OF  ERGOXANTHE1N. 
For  ascertaining  the  action  of  ergoxanthe'in  upon  the  human 
organism  the  standard  alcoholic  solution  of  25  c.c,  equivalent  to 
25  c.c.  of  the  fluidextract,  was  used.  Of  this  solution  1  fluidrachm, 
equivalent  to  about  4  c.c,  was  used  as  a  dose  for  determining  the 
blood-pressure  by  Gaetner's  Tonometre,  Dr.  A.  W.  Perry,  San 
Fran.,  officiating.  The  pressure  was  recorded  in  millimetres  taking 
also  at  the  same  time  the  pulse  beats  of  the  radial  artery.  The 
observations  were  made  every  5  minutes.  After  ten  minutes,  the 
pulse  dropped  from  80  to  75  beats  per  minute.  The  blood-pressure 
at  the  initial  point  stood  at  133  mm.,  had  now  risen  to  168  mm. 
as  its  maximum  pressure,  giving  an  increase  of  27  mm.  The  blood- 
pressure  from  this  time  on  dropped  to  its  initial  within  half  an  hour, 
the  slowing  of  the  blood  beats  during  the  experiment  being  the 
general  law  that  the  lowering  of  the  pulse  is  inversely  proportional 
to  the  blood-pressure. 
The  following  effects  were  experienced  by  the  writer  during  the 
experiment : 
A  sense  of  fulness  in  the  head,  face  flushed,  considerable  mental 
exhilaration. 
