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3. Digitalis does not contain a base analogous to strychnine, 
although the fact has been asserted in Sweden. 
M. Dulong concludes with an important fact, which, how- 
ever, has attracted but little attention. He found that this 
bitter active principle of digitalis, forms with infusion of galls 
an insoluble precipitate. Hence he concludes that watery- 
infusions of nutgalls will act as an antidote to the poison of 
digitalis especially if used in conjunction with the means 
already known.* In 1835, the result of the experiments of 
MM. Brault, and Poggiole was published by these chemists. 
The following is the substance of their memoir: 
We have often (say they) repeated all the processes to pre- 
pare this pretended digitaline, and have never yet been able to 
procure it. The process of M. Pauguy consists in boiling 
digitalis in distilled water sharpened with sulphuric acid, 
treating the decoction with calcined magnesia, and the dried 
precipitate with alcohol. The latter solution, when distilled, 
will deposit a white crystalline substance in small needles. 
Without fear of falsehood, we affirm that this process furnishes 
no product whatever. 
We have repeated the process of M. Leroyer different 
times, and like that chemist we have always obtained a heavy, 
brown substance, possessing an extremely acrid bitter taste. 
This is the digitaline of M. Leroyer. Our examination has 
proved that this is an extract composed of a great quantity of 
chlorophylle, much resin, a fatty matter, and different salts of 
lime and potassa. M. Leroyer relates, that M. Prevost has 
seen crystals of digitaline by the aid of the microscope. We 
affirm, on the contrary, that these are salts of lime and potash 
which the digitalis contains. 
After these reflections we have nothing to add on the labors 
of M. Planiava. His digitaline is nothing but an extract, com- 
posed nearly of the same principles as that procured by the 
process of M. Leroyer. 
It results from the preceding fact, that the pretended digi- 
taline has never been obtained; that the digitaline of M. 
* Journal de Pharmacie, xiii, p. 379 
