358  Some  Recent  Sugar  Reactions.  \^ll™;mtm 
in  the  twenty-four  hours ;  in  one  case  they  gave  5  milligrammes  for 
eight  days,  without  any  bad  results.  In  two  cases,  however,  the 
daily  use  of  3  milligrammes  for  two  weeks  caused  reduction  of  the 
pulse-rate  to  48  per  minute,  without  any  other  accompanying  symp- 
toms. They  reached  the  conclusion  that  the  strophanthin  was  a 
good  substitute  for  the  tincture  of  strophanthus. 
In  looking  over  the  records  of  our  experiments,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  activity  of  the  strophanthin  itself  was  much  more  marked 
in  raising  the  arterial  pressure  than  that  of  the  extract,  so  that  con- 
firmation is  afforded  of  the  conclusion  of  Rothziegel  and  Koralzew- 
ski — that  strophanthin  is  a  superior  preparation  of  the  drug. 
We  believe,  therefore,  that  the  Pharmacopoeia  should  recognize 
the  active  principle  of  strophanthus,  and  give  appropriate  tests  for 
its  purity. 
Physiological  Laboratory, 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  May,  1896. 
AN  EXAMINATION  OF  SOME  RECENT  SUGAR  £ 
REACTIONS. 
By  Frederick  W.  Haussmann. 
According  to  the  statements  of  prominent  investigators,  physio- 
logical glycosuria  is  an  established  fact. 
The  researches  of  Emil  Fischer  on  carbohydrates  have  also  found 
application  in  the  analysis  of  urine,  and  the  above  statement  has 
been  strengthened  by  the  fact  that,  according  to  the  researches  of 
Schilder,  the  precipitates  obtained  from  normal  urine,  after  treat- 
ment with  lead  chloride  and  ammonium  hydrate,  always  respond  to 
the  phenylhydrazine  reaction.  It  must  be  regretted  that  this  deli- 
cate reaction  for  glucose  is  not  easily  applicable,  as  the  determina- 
tion of  the  melting-point  of  the  compound  formed  is  an  absolute 
necessity,  and,  therefore,  excludes  a  rapid  examination  of  urine. 
The  statement  is  frequently  made  that  temporary  glycosuria  is  of 
little  significance.  The  influence  of  food,  muscular  exercise,  etc., 
are  known  to  produce  this  effect.  Individual  tendencies  are  also 
known  to  vary  under  such  conditions,  and,  if  such  influences  are 
brought  to  bear  upon  certain  subjects,  a  temporary  glycosuria  is  of 
decided  prognostic  value. 
The  above  deduction  can  be  made  from  the  statement  of  See,  who 
