34 
Varieties. 
Am.  Jour  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1878. 
I  have  made  physiological  experiments  with  an  alcoholic  extract  of  the  bean  upon 
the  lower  animals  sufficient  to  outline  its  general  action. 
In  frogs  it  produces  a  rapid  loss  of  reflex  activity  and  power  of  voluntary  move- 
ment. The  loss  of  power  is  not  due  to  any  action  upon  the  motor  nerve-trunks, 
as  after  death  these  were  found  to  preserve  their  normal  susceptibility.  Further, 
tying  the  sciatic  artery  upon  one  or  both  sides  of  the  frog  did  not  influence  the 
action  of  the  drug  upon  either  voluntary  or  reflex  movements.  This  would  indicate 
that  the  poison  is  a  spinal  sedative  and  has  little  or  no  effect  upon  either  motor  or 
sensitive  nerves.  In  all  cases  the  heart  continued  beating  long  after  the  cessation  of 
respiration. 
Upon  mammals  the  effect  varies  somewhat  in  accordance  with  the  dose.  An 
amount  of  the  extract  estimated  at  two  grains  (?)  produced,  in  a  full  grown  tom- 
cat, in  one  minute  marked  weakness  in  hind  legs,  in  two  minutes  inability  to  stand, 
with  evident  effect  upon  the  respiration,  in  three  minutes  convulsive  movements 
with  loss  of  consciousness,  continuing  with  ever-increasing  embarrassment  of  the 
breathing  for  three  minutes,  when  all  attempts  at  respiration  ceased.  The  heart 
kept  on  beating  for  one  and  a  half  minutes  longer.  The  pupils  were  unaffected  at 
first,  afterwards  dilated. 
In  small  quantity  the  extract  produces  in  the  cat  vomiting,  great  muscular  weak- 
ness, profound  quietude,  and  deep  sleep,  lasting  some  hours,  and  ending  in  recovery. 
In  dogs  the  symptoms  were  similar  to  those  noted  in  cats.  Death  always  took  place 
through  the  respiration.  In  a  single  cardiac  experiment  the  drug  had  no  decided 
effect  upon  the  blood-pressure  until  towards  death,  but  appeared  to  accelerate  the 
cardiac  beat. — Philada.  Med.  Times,  Aug.  4,  1877. 
Salicylic  Acid  and  Salicylate  of  Soda  in  the  Treatment  of  Neuralgia.  (The 
"Medical  Record,"  Sept.  1,  1877). — Descroizilles  has  employed  salicylic  acid 
and  salicylate  of  soda  in  seven  cases  of  neuralgia  with  satisfactory  results.  The 
number  of  cases  is  too  small  to  permit  a  judgment  to  be  formed  from  them  of  the 
therapeutic  value  of  the  two  drugs,  but  they  demonstrate  the  advantages  which  the 
salt  possesses  over  the  acid  in  the  treatment  of  this  disease.  All  the  cases  were 
cured,  but  in  the  three  cases  in  which  the  acid  was  administered  it  produced  a  certain 
amount  of  deafness.  In  two  of  these  cases  it  also  exerted  an  energetic  irritant 
action  on  the  mucous  membranes  of  the  digestive  and  respiratory  tracts,  and  in  the 
other  it  caused  vertigo,  general  weakness  and  well-marked  hebetude.  The  salt  did 
not  exert  any  injurious  action  either  on  the  mucous  membranes  or  on  the  nervous 
system.  It  was  not  necessary  to  give  it  in  as  large  doses  as  the  acid,  and  the  cure 
was  rapidly  effected.  From  1  to  5  grams  of  the  salt  were  given  daily,  while  in  one 
of  the  cases  treated  by  the  acid  as  much  as  7  grams  were  given  in  one  day.  In  all 
the  cases  the  treatment  was  begun  with  small  doses  (1  to  2  grams),  which  were 
increased  by  a  gram  a  day  until  the  desired  effect  was  obtained. — Phila.  Med.  Times , 
Sept.  29. 
Apomorphia  as  an  Expectorant  ("The  Clinic,"  Sept.  1,  1877). —  Dr.  Moritz 
Wertner  records  ("  Wiener  Med.  Presse  ")  his  experience  with  this  agent  in  a  large 
