CHEMICAL  COMPOSITION  OF  GELSEMIUM  SEMPERVIRENS.  11 
Physiological  effects. — That  this  alkaloid  is  a  very  active  and 
powerful  poison,  is  shown  by  the  following  experiments.  One- 
tenth  of  a  grain,  in  the  form  of  chloride  and  dissolved  in  a 
small  quantity  of  water,  was  administered  to  a  strong  healthy 
cat.  Immediately  it  caused  extreme  frothing  from  the  mouth, 
and  in  twenty  minutes  the  animal  exhibited  great  weakness  of 
the  extremities,  walking  with  much  uncertainty.  In  forty 
minutes  there  was  extreme  prostration  with  entire  inability 
to  walk  and  the  uttering  of  plaintive  cries.  In  one  hour  the 
prostration  was  even  more  complete.  When  seen  six  hours  after 
the  poison  had  been  administered,  the  animal  appeared  compara- 
tively well,  but  walked  with  a  very  uncertain  gait.  There  is 
little  doubt  but  more  or  less  of  the  poison  was  expelled  from  the 
mouth  by  the  excessive  frothing. 
Three  days  afterwards  one-eighth  of  a  grain  was  administered 
to  the  same  animal  by  hypodermic  injection,  the  animal  in  the 
meantime  having  apparently  entirely  recovered  from  the  former 
dose,  and  being  well  fed.  In  about  fifteen  minutes  the  animal 
exhibited  great  distress,  manifested  by  sudden  changes  of  posi- 
tion, moaning,  etc.  In  forty  minutes  there  was  great  prostra- 
tion and  great  difficulty  in  moving,  the  legs  giving  way,  and 
progression  being  about  as  often  backwards  as  forwards ;  the 
pulse  was  230,  and  very  feeble  ;  respiration  greatly  reduced  and 
gasping  ;  the  pupils  dilated  to  their  fullest  extent.  These  symp- 
toms continued,  and  death  took  place  in  one  hour  and  a  half 
after  the  poison  had  been  administered,  without  there  being  at 
any  time  convulsions. 
Chemical  properties. — In  its  pure  state,  gelseminine  is  a  color- 
less, odorless  solid,  having  an  intensely  persistent  bitter  taste. 
Thus  far  we  have  failed  to  obtain  it  in  the  form  of  well-defined 
crystals.  It  has  strongly  basic  properties,  completely  neutralising 
the  most  powerful  acids,  forming  salts,  of  which  the  sulphate, 
nitrate,  chloride  and  acetate  are  freely  soluble  in  water,* 
In  its  free  state,  the  alkaloid  is  only  sparingly  soluble  in 
water,  requiring  several  hundred  times  its  weight  for  solution  ; 
*  We  have  not  yet  satisfactorily  determined  the  ultimate  composition 
of  gelseminine,  but  hope  soon  to  report  its  exact  composition,  together 
"with  that  of  gelsemiuic  acid. 
