254 
Agaric  Acid. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1889. 
cold-blooded  animals  is  a  gradually  progressive  central  paralysis, 
weakening  of  the  heart,  and  suppression,  or  marked  depression  of  the 
cutaneous  secretion.  The  only  symptoms  produced  in  dogs  by  large 
doses  administered  by  the  mouth  were  vomiting  and  diarrhoea.  By 
subcutaneous  and  intravenous  injections  in  rabbits,  it  was  found  that 
the  vaso-motor  and*  vagus  centres  were  first  stimulated  and  finally 
paralyzed.  Death  was  caused  by  failure  of  respiration,  and  in  animals 
subjected  to  artificial  respiration,  by  failure  of  the  heart. 
The  action  of  agaric  acid  on  the  secretion  of  sweat  was  investigated 
in  cats  by  injecting  subcutaneously  the  soda  salt.  The  results  placed 
beyond  a  doubt  the  anti-hydrotic  action  of  the  drug.  The  facts  that 
in  an  animal  under  the  influence  of  agaric  acid,  irritation  of  the  sub- 
sciatic  nerve  had  no  effect  on  the  secretion  of  sweat  in  the  correspond- 
ing leg,  and  that  this  limb  sweated  profusely  some  minutes  after  the 
injection  of  pilocarpin,  prove  that  the  action  is  not  central  but  peri- 
pheral. 
With  the  exception  of  the  anti-hydrotic  effect,  there  is  no  similarity 
between  the  actions  of  atropin  and  agaric  acid. 
Malic  acid  and  members  of  the  higher  fatty  acid  series  were  tried, 
and  found  to  have  no  influence  on  the  sweat  glands. 
In  regard  to  the  therapeutic  use  of  agaric  acid,  it  is  to  be  noted  that 
the  local  irritation  produced  by  the  drug  and  its  salts  forbid  the  sub- 
cutaneous administrations.  On  the  other  hand,  vomiting  and  diarrhoea 
need  not  be  so  dreaded  when  the  pure  drug  is  used  as  the  experience 
of  those  who  have  tried  the  commercial  agaricin  might  lead  us  to  do. 
Doses  of  0*05,  and  in  one  case  0*1,  given  to  phthisical  patients 
caused  slight  temporary  nausea  and  signs  of  intoxication.  Doses  of 
0*02  and  0*03  were,  without  exception,  well  borne.  The  anhydrotic 
effect  became  first  manifest  hours  after  the  drug  was  taken,  and  lasted 
for  over  twenty-four  hours.  Hence  it  is  possible  to  get  the  full  benefit 
of  a  large  dose,  and  at  the  same  time  avoid  the  unpleasant  effects,  by 
repeating  small  doses  at  short  intervals.  The  large  doses  should  not 
be  ventured  on  unless  it  is  quite  certain  that  we  are  dealing  with  pure, 
white,  well-crystallized  agaric  acid,  which  does  not  taste  bitter  when 
dissolved  in  weak  alcohol,  and  forms  a  colorless  solution  in  boiling 
water. 
Cocaine  is  precipitated  by  sodium  borate,  according  to  Levaillant;  the 
precipitate  will  disappear  on  the  addition  of  a  few  drops  of  glycerin. — 
Archives  de  Ph.,  Nov.  6,  1888. 
