jAmy^ounPharm.    Constitueuts  of  Gelsemium  Sempervirens.  341 
8.  Sulphate  of  copper  causes  in  a  solution  of  the  acid  a  dirty  brown 
precipitate,  which  soon  assumes  a  dull  red  color,  and  crystalline  needles 
separate. 
^scalin  yields  a  blueish  white  deposit,  which  undergoes  little  or  no 
change. 
9.  Acetate  of  lead  (neutral)  produces  a  copious  yellow  precipitate, 
which  after  a  time  is  partly  changed  into  very  minute  star-like  groups 
of  crystals.  These  are  insoluble  in  ammonia,  but  readily  soluble  in 
acetic  acid,  being  quickly  replaced  by  slender  needles  of  the  free  acid. 
^Esculin  yields  a  somewhat  similar  precipitate,  but  no  crystals  were 
obtained. 
10.  Physiological  action. — a.  O'OlO  gram  (about  \  grain)  of  the 
gelsemium  principle  was  administered  hypodermically  to  a  frog.  After 
a  few  minutes  the  eyes  were  fluorescent,  and  the  animal  seemed  slug- 
gish ;  after  half  an  hour  it  was  somewhat  excited  and  apparently  weak. 
No  other  marked  symptoms  were  noticed  during  the  several  hours  the 
animal  was  observed. 
A  similar  quantity  of  cesculin  produced  fluorescence  of  the  eyes,  but 
no  other  apparent  effect.  * 
b.  0*033  gram  (J  grain)  of  the  gelsemium  substance,  prepared  by 
precipitation  with  hydrochloric  acid,  being  injected  into  the  peritoneum 
of  a  frog,  was  quickly  followed  by  violent  agitation ;  the  animal 
became  rigid,  and  reflex  action  was  markedly  diminished.  In  five 
minutes  the  animal  was  apparently  lifeless ;  there  was  rigidity  of  the 
abdominal  muscles,  which  slowly  relaxed.  After  forty  minutes,  the 
heart  had  ceased  to  beat,  was  relaxed  and  not  irritable. 
c.  A  similar  quantity,  injected  into  the  posterior  lymph  sack,  was 
quickly  followed  by  great  agitation  and  general  prostration.  In  fifteen 
minutes  active  voluntary  movements  appeared,  and  there  was  marked 
fluorescence  of  the  entire  eye-ball.  After  forty-five  minutes  the  heart 
was  found  still  beating,  but  ceased  fifteen  minutes  later. 
In  another  experiment,  a  like  quantity  caused  a  complete  cataleptic 
condition  and  death  within  ten  minutes. 
d.  0*033  gram  of  wsculin  injected  into  the  peritoneum  of  a  similar 
frog  produced  no  apparent  effect,  other  than  a  marked  fluorescence  of 
the  eyes,  which  continued  some  fifteen  hours. 
For  these  physiological  experiments,  I  am  much  indebted  to  Dr. 
Edward  T.  lieichert.  These  results,  in  regard  to  the  gelsemium  prin- 
ciple, confirm  in  a  measure  those  previously  obtained  by  Dr.  Isaac  Ott. 
— (American  Practitioner,  1877.) 
