542 
REMARKS  ON  ERGOT. 
talline  mass  of  hjdrochlorate  of  secalin  remained,  which  had 
little  if  any  odor  of  secalin. 
The  fixed  oil  was  now  examined.  On  washing  it  with  a  little 
acidulated  water,  the  latter  acquired  color,  and  when  mixed  with 
potassa,  the  vapor  of  secalin  was  manifested  by  its  odor,  and  when 
brought  near  hydrochloric  acid.  This  shows  that  commercial 
ether  removes  a  portion  of  the  secalin,  and  points  to  the  neces- 
sity of  washing  the  oil  with  acidulated  water  when  it  is  rejected 
from  a  preparation  of  ergot. 
Two  vials  of  the  distillate,  of  an  ounce  each,  were  placed  in 
the  hands  of  two  medical  gentlemen,  for  trial,  in  the  hope  that 
they  would  be  able  to  report  in  time  for  the  meeting  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, but  as  yet  no  return  has  been  made. 
It  was  not  deemed  necessary  to  isolate  propylamin  (secalin) 
from  herring  pickle,  until  the  secalin  of  Winckler  was  satisfac- 
torily shewn  to  be  the  active  principle  of  ergot,  as  the  interest 
centering  in  the  determination  of  that  point  was  presumed  to 
be  common  to  both. 
It  remained,  therefore,  to  prepare  a  formula  for  a  fluid  prepa- 
ration of  ergot  which  should  fully  represent  its  activity. 
1.  Mr.  T.  R.  Baker  and  others  have  shown  that  oil  of  ergot,  freed 
from  adhering  substances,  is  bland,  and  has  the  composition  of 
castor  oil,  or  at  least  that  the  fatty  acid  (ergotoleic  acid)  of  oil 
of  ergot  has  a  similar  constitution  with  ricinoleic  acid. 
2.  The  experiments  above  show  that  commercial  ether  does 
remove  some  secalin  with  the  oil.  This  probably  arises  from 
the  alcohol  present  in  small  quantities,  and  points  to  the 
propriety  of  using  purer  non-alcoholic  ether. 
3.  Powdered  ergot  moistened  with  water  exhibits  an  acid  re- 
action with  blue  litmus,  and  Winckler  asserts  that  secalin  exists 
in  ergot,  combined  with  ergotic  acid  (of  Wiggers.)  On  inserting 
a  glass  rod  moistened  with  HC1  into  the  atmosphere  of  a 
bottle  containing  powdered  ergot,  but  little  if  any  visible  vapors 
are  observed,  yet  there  is  a  distinct  well  marked  ergot  odor. 
4.  Does  the  normal  odor  of  ergot  arise  from  a  gradual  disen- 
gagement of  secalin,  or  is  it  independent  of  that  principle  ?  To 
answer  this  question,  it  is  necessary  to  compare  the  odor  of  ergot 
and  secalin.  They  are  different — as  different  as  valerian  and 
valerianic  acid— yet  the  odor  of  valerian  is  largely  influenced  by 
