156 
ON  CYCLAMIN,  ETC. 
From  their  experiments  De  Luca  and  Bernard  came  to  the 
conclusiDn  that  cyclamin  had  properties  similar  to  curara.  Peli- 
kan  thinks  it  an  acrid  poison.  The  following  are  the  most 
important  of  Prof.  Schroff's  results: — 
Cyclamin  is  a  poison ;  it  is  the  most  powerful,  but  not  the 
only  active,  constituent  of  the  root.  The  well-dried  root  may  be 
preserved  for  several  years  without  losing  its  efficacy.  It  is 
without  any  influence  on  the  skin.  It  produces  burning,  nausea 
and  vomiting,  but  no  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membranes  of 
the  mouth  and  stomach.  Introduced  into  the  respiratory  organs 
it  absorbs  haamatin  from  the  blood,  and  produces  intense  inflam- 
mations ;  also  hyperinosis.  It  causes  intense  inflammations  in 
the  rectum,  the  peritoneum,  and  when  introduced  below  the  skin. 
It  exerts  only  a  passing  influence  on  the  cerebro-spinal  system, 
when  introduced  directly  into  the  circulation.  Its  action  is 
directed  towards  the  salivary  glands.  After  being  absorbed  it 
probably  alters  the  composition  of  the  blood  ;  it  is  uncertain  yet 
in  what  state  and  by  which  organs  it  is  excreted.  In  its  pro- 
perties it  is  similar  and  stronger  than  smilacin,  senegin  and 
saponin;  gastritis  excepted,  it  also  resembles  emetia,  colocynthin, 
elaterin  and  colchicia,  but  is  weaker.  It  differs  essentially  from 
the  narcotic  and  acrid-narcotic  poisons. 
The  juice  of  the  root  of  Cyclamen  Europaeum  has  only  the 
properties  of  cyclamin.  The  quality  of  the  action  of  the  fresh 
root  is  the  same  as  of  the  dried  tuber,  but  in  quantity  it  is  less, 
being  one-third  of  the  latter.  The  alcoholic  extract  has  the 
same  qualitative  properties,  but  is  double  the  strength  of  the 
dried  root.  The  aqueous  extract  is  almost  inert;  a  boiling  tem- 
perature injures  the  activity.  Besides  the  symptoms  produced 
by  cyclamin,  the  root  and  alcoholic  extract  cause  gastritis. 
Cyclamen  is  a  fish-poison ;  its  juice,  coming  into  contact  with 
their  respiratory  organs,  forces  the  fishes  to  seek  the  surface  of 
the  water,  and  ultimately  kills  them.  J.  M.  M. 
