( 57 )
thrown down. Agititated with ether, the ether solution on being evaporated
left a sticky, dark-coloured residue, which is entirely soluble in alcohol and has
an acid reaction. Made into an emulsion with solution of starch and adminis--
tered to a cat produced no symptoms.
2. A larger quantity of alcoholic extract was made by digesting two pounds
of fine powder of flat gánjá, season 1892-93, with 80 ounces of rectified spirit
in a Thorn's digester. The extract removed from the digester was evaporated
on a water bath. The extract produced has a pleasant odour and a sweetish
(liquorice-like) taste, but a pungent (peppermint-like) flavour, not at first per
-ceptible, developes after half a minute and persists. The feeling developes into
a slight paralysis of taste, somewhat like that caused by the essential oil of
Zanthoxylon, but less complete and less enduring.
Two grains of this extract administered to a healthy cat produced after
One hour some dilatation with immobility of pupil and considerable disturbance
of locomotion, with drowsiness.
27.58 grammes were taken in order that the alkoloids indicated by the pre
-ceding examination might be obtained in larger quantity.
Treated with tartaric acid, neutralised with bicarbonate of soda, and
agitated with ether.
The substance obtained on evaporating off the ether =.009 per cent. This
substance gave the following reactions:—
Mayer's re-agent with dil. sulphuric acid
... Distinct white ppt.
...
Picric acid
...
...
... Faint yellow ppt.
Phospho-molybdic acid
...
...
... Plentiful white ppt.
Platinic chloride
...
...
. . . . . Nil.
Gold chloride ...
...
...
• • •
Nil.
.
Potassio-bismuthic iodide .... .
... Orange ppt.
Tri-iodide of potassium.
...
...
... Yellowish-brown ppt.
Soda hydrate
•••
...
... Distinct greenish-white ppt.
Agitated with chloroform after ether had removed all possible alkaloid
an extract, alkaline chloroform extract=. 01 per cent. was obtained. This
gave the following reactions
Mayer's re-agent with dil. sulphuric acid
... Distinct white ppt.
Picric acid...
• .. ... Nil..
Phospho-molybdic acid
...
...
... Plentiful white ppt.
Platinic chloride
...
...
... Faint yellow ppt., not at
first visible, but developed
on standing.
Gold chloride
...
...
... Faint white ppt., developed
immediately, increased on
standing.
Potassio-bismuthic iodide
...
... Plentiful orange ppt.
Tri-iodide of potassium
...
...
... Very faint ppt. (whitish),
Soda hydrate ...
...
...
Very faint ppt.
The extract deprived of alkaloids was redried to extract consistence
and again weighed, and loss during manipulation noted.
The alkaloid free extract was now placed in air-bath and heated to
110°C. for some hours to drive off any trace that might remain of the essential
oil described by Bohlig and Personne. When the substance was finally
removed (it had ceased to lose weight some hours previously), the loss of weight
was found to be 13 . 61 per cent.
Two grains of this alkaloid-free and essential-oil-free extract was now
given to a healthy cat. The dose produced after an hour considerable dila--
tation of pupil; much interference with power of locomotion. After three
hours the pupils were fully dilated and were immobile; the animal would not
move unless placed forcibly on its feet; if this was done it crawled slowly to the
nearest dark corner, where it lay as if dead. Five hours after the administra-
- t i o n o f t h e d o s e , w h e n o b s e r v a t i o n h a d t o c e a s e , t h e c a t w a s s t i l l i n t h e s a m e
condition. Next day it had quite recovered.
Treated with petroleum-ether the remaining alcoholic extract was found
not to be completely dissolved. The petroleum-ether solution was passed
through a filter, and the petroleum-ether extract evaporated down and exam
- i n e d . T h e d e t a i l s o f t h i s e x a m i n a t i o n b e i n g t h e s a m e a s t h o s e d e s c r i b e d i n