448 
PHYSIOLOGICAL  ACTION  OF  THEINE. 
British  Imperial  Measures. 
Pint  (|  gallon)  .    =    0*567932  litre 
Quart  (i    "  ) 
Imperial  gallon 
Peck  (2  gallons) 
Bushel  (8  gallons) 
Sack  (3  bushels) 
Quarter  (8  bushels) 
Chaldron  (12  sacks) 
— London  Chemical  Neivs,  May  8,  1868. 
1-  135864 
4-54345797  litres 
9-0869159 
36-347664 
1  09043  hectolitre 
2-  907813  hectolitres 
13-08516  " 
PHYSIOLOGICAL  ACTION  OF  THEINE. 
Chemical  analysis  has  shown  that  tea  contains  the  same  cryst- 
allizable,  nitrogenized  principle  as  coffee  and  cocoa.  Dr.  Leven 
conceived  that  it  would  be  useful  to  determine  by  experiments 
whether  the  physiological  effects  were  the  same.  Having 
already  experimented  with  caffeine  (see  Amer.  Jour.  Med.  Sci.  for 
April,  1868,  p.  525),  he  determined  to  experiment  with  the'ine  on 
frogs  and  guinea  pigs.    The  following  are  his  conclusions : — 
1st.  Theine  and  caffeine,  considered  as  one  and  the  same 
alkaloid  by  chemists,  seem  to  produce  different  toxic  effects  on 
animals  submitted  to  their  action. 
2d.  Theine  is  a  less  powerful  toxic  than  caffeine,  and  it  is 
only  when  given  in  double  doses  that  the  former  produces  the 
toxic  effects  of  the  latter. 
3d.  Theine  also  produces  convulsive  movements  in  the  limbs, 
which  Dr.  L.  has  not  observed  from  the  action  of  caffeine. 
4th.  In  other  respects  their  physiological  effects  are  identical. 
Both  alkaloids  seem  to  directly  excite  the  heart  and  respiratory 
movements  and  to  increase  arterial  tension.  By  exciting  the 
circulation,  they  stimulate  the  central  nervous  system,  the  brain 
and  spinal  marrow  ;  but  they  do  not  arrest  the  functions  of  the 
spinal  cord  and  nerves.  The  tetanic  convulsions  resulting  from 
their  action  is  caused  by  the  stimulation  of  the  spinal  cord.  They 
do  not  abolish  the  functions  of  muscle ;  the  heart  does  not 
cease  to  beat  immediately  after  death. — Amer.  Journ.Med.  Sci., 
July,  1868,  from  Archives  de  Physiologie  Normale  et  Patholo- 
gique,    May-June,  1868. 
