Chapter VIII: Part VI: Alkaloids and Poisonous Vegetable Principles

SEPARATED FOR THE MOST PART BY ALCOHOLIC SOLVENTS.

DIVISION I.--VEGETABLE ALKALOIDS.

I. GENERAL METHOD OF TESTING AND EXTRACTING ALKALOIDS.

301. General Tests for Alkaloids, 236
302. Group-Reagents, 236, 237
303. Phosphomolybdic, Silico-Tungstic, and Phospho-Tungstic Acids as
Alkaloidal Reagents, 237-239
304. Schulze’s Reagent, 239
305. Dragendorff’s Reagent, 239
306. Colour Tests, 239
307. Stas’s Process, 239

_Methods of Separation._

308. Selmi’s Process for Separating Alkaloids, 240, 241
309. Dragendorff’s Process, 241-254
310. Shorter Process for Separating some of the Alkaloids, 254, 255
311. Scheibler’s Process for Alkaloids, 255
312. Grandval and Lajoux’s Method, 255, 256
313. Identification of the Alkaloids, 256
314. Sublimation of the Alkaloids, 256-261
315. Melting-point, 261
316. Identification by Organic Analysis, 261, 262
317. Quantitative Estimation of the Alkaloids--Mayer’s Reagent--
Compound of the Alkaloids with Chlorides of Gold and Platinum,
262-264

II. LIQUID VOLATILE ALKALOIDS.

1. _The Alkaloids of Hemlock_ (_Conium_).

318. Botanical Description of Hemlock, 264
319. Properties of Coniine--Tests, 264-266
320. Other Coniine Bases, 266
321. Pharmaceutical Preparations of Hemlock, 266, 267
322. Statistics of Coniine Poisoning, 267
323. Effects of Coniine on Animals, 267, 268
324. Effects of Coniine on Man, 268
325. Physiological Action of Coniine, 268
326. _Post-mortem_ Appearances--Fatal Dose, 268, 269
327. Separation of Coniine from Organic Matters or Tissues, 269

2. _Tobacco--Nicotine._

328. General Composition of Tobacco, 269, 270
329. Quantitative Estimation of Nicotine in Tobacco, 270, 271
330. Nicotine; its Properties and Tests, 271-273
331. Effects of Nicotine on Animals, 273, 274
332. Effects of Nicotine on Man, 274, 275
333. Some Instances of Poisoning by Tobacco and Tobacco Juice, 275-277
334. Physiological Action of Nicotine, 277, 278
335. Fatal Dose, 278
336. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 278
337. Separation of Nicotine from Organic Matters, &c., 278, 279

3. _Piturie._

338. Properties of Piturie, 279

4. _Sparteine._

339. Properties of Sparteine, 279, 280

5. _Aniline._

340. Properties of Aniline, 280
341. Symptoms and Effects, 280, 281
342. Fatal Dose, 281
343. Detection of Aniline, 281

III. THE OPIUM GROUP OF ALKALOIDS.

344. General Composition of Opium, 281, 282
345. Action of Solvents on Opium, 282, 283
346. The Methods of Teschemacher and Smith, of Dott and others for
the Assay of Opium, 283, 284
347. Medicinal and other Preparations of Opium, 284-288
348. Statistics of Opiate Poisoning, 288, 289
349. Poisoning of Children by Opium, 289
350. Doses of Opium and Morphine--Fatal Dose, 289, 290
351. General Method for the Detection of Opium, 290, 291
352. Morphine; its Properties, 291, 292
353. Morphine Salts; their Solubility, 292, 293
354. Constitution of Morphine, 293, 294
355. Tests for Morphine and its Compounds--Production of Morphine
Hydriodide--Iodic Acid Test and other Reactions--Transformation
of Morphine into Codeine, 294-296
356. Symptoms of Opium and Morphine Poisoning--Action on Animals,
296-298
357. Physiological Action, 298, 299
358. Physiological Action of Morphine Derivatives, 299
359. Action on Man--(_a_) The Sudden Form; (_b_) the Convulsive Form;
(_c_) a Remittent Form of Opium Poisoning--Illustrative Cases,
299-303
360. Diagnosis of Opium Poisoning, 303, 304
361. Opium-Eating, 304-306
362. Treatment of Opium or Morphine Poisoning, 306
363. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 306, 307
364. Separation of Morphine from Animal Tissues and Fluids, 307
365. Extraction of Morphine, 308, 309
366. Narcotine; its Properties and Tests, 309, 310
367. Effects of Narcotine, 310
368. Codeine--Properties of Codeine, 310, 311
369. Effects of Codeine on Animals--Claude Bernard’s Experiments, 311
370. Narceine--Properties of Narceine--Tests, 312, 313
371. Effects of Narceine, 313, 314
372. Papaverine--Properties of Papaverine--Tests, 314
373. Effects of Papaverine, 314
374. Thebaine; its Properties, 314, 315
375. Thebaine; its Effects, 315
376. Cryptopine, 315, 316
377. Rhœadine, 316
378. Pseudomorphine, 316
379. Opianine, 316
380. Apomorphine, 316, 317
381. Reactions of some of the Rarer Opium Alkaloids, 317
382. Tritopine, 317
383. Meconin (Opianyl), 317
384. Meconic Acid--Effects of Meconic Acid--Tests, 318, 319

IV. THE STRYCHNINE OR TETANUS-PRODUCING GROUP OF ALKALOIDS.

1. _Nux Vomica Group--Strychnine--Brucine--Igasurine._

385. Nux Vomica--Characteristics of the Entire and of the Powdered
Seed, 319
386. Chemical Composition of Nux Vomica, 319
387. Strychnine--Microscopical Appearances--Properties--Medicinal
Preparations--Strychnine Salts, 319-322
388. Pharmaceutical and other Preparations of Nux Vomica, with
Suggestions for their Valuation--Vermin-Killers, 322-324
389. Statistics, 324-325
390. Fatal Dose--Falck’s Experiments on Animals as to the Least Fatal
Dose--Least Fatal Dose for Man, 325-328
391. Action on Animals--Frogs, 328, 329
392. Effects on Man--Symptoms--Distinction between “Disease Tetanus”
and “Strychnos Tetanus,” 329-331
393. Diagnosis of Strychnine Poisoning, 331, 332
394. Physiological Action--Richet’s Experiments--The Rise of
Temperature--Effect on the Blood-Pressure, 332, 333
395. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 333
396. Treatment, 333
397. Separation of Strychnine from Organic Matters--Separation from
the Urine, Blood, and Tissues, 334-337
398. Identification of the Alkaloid--Colour Tests--Physiological
Tests, 337-339
399. Hypaphorine, 339
400. Quantitative Estimation of Strychnine, 339, 340
401. Brucine; its Properties, 340, 341
402. Physiological Action of Brucine--Experiments of Falck, 341, 342
403. Tests for Brucine, 342, 343
404. Igasurine, 344
405. Strychnic Acid, 344

2. _The Quebracho Group of Alkaloids._

406. The Alkaloids of Quebracho--Aspidospermine--Quebrachine, 344

3. _Pereirine._

407. Pereirine, 344, 345

4. _Gelsemine._

408. Properties of Gelsemine, 345
409. Fatal Dose of Gelsemine, 345
410. Effects on Animals--Physiological Action, 345
411. Effects of Gelsemine on Man, 346
412. Extraction from Organic Matters, or the Tissues of the Body, 347

5. _Cocaine._

413. Cocaine; its Properties, 47, 348
414. Cocaine Hydrochlorate, 348
415. Pharmaceutical Preparations, 348
416. Separation of Cocaine and Tests, 348, 349
417. Symptoms, 349
418. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 349, 350
419. Fatal Dose, 350

6. _Corydaline._

420. Properties of Corydaline, 350

V. THE ACONITE GROUP OF ALKALOIDS.

421. Varieties of Aconite--Description of the Flower, and of the
Seeds, 350, 351
422. Pharmaceutical Preparations of Aconite, 351
423. The Aconite Alkaloids, 351
424. Aconitine, 351, 352
425. Tests for Aconitine, 352
426. Benzoyl-Aconine Properties--Recognition of Benzoic Acid,
353, 354
427. Pyraconitine, 354
428. Pyraconine, 354
429. Aconine, 355
430. Commercial Aconitine--English and German Samples of Aconitine--
Lethal Dose of the Alkaloid and of the Pharmaceutical
Preparations, 355-358
431. Effects of Aconitine on Animal Life--Insects, Fish, Reptiles,
Birds, Mammals, 358-360
432. Statistics, 361
433. Effects on Man, 361
434. Poisoning by the Root (_Reg. v. M’Conkey_), 361, 362
435. Poisoning by the Alkaloid Aconitine--Three Cases of
Poisoning, 363, 364
436. Lamson’s Case, 364, 365
437. Symptoms of Poisoning by the Tincture, &c., 365, 366
438. Physiological Action, 366
439. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 366, 367
440. Separation of Aconitine from the Contents of the Stomach or the
Organs, 367, 368

VI. THE MYDRIATIC GROUP OF ALKALOIDS--ATROPINE--HYOSCYAMINE--SOLANINE
--CYTISINE.

1. _Atropine._

441. The _Atropa belladonna_; its Alkaloidal Content, 368, 369
442. The _Datura stramonium_--Distinction between Datura and
Capsicum Seeds, 369, 370
443. Pharmaceutical Preparations--(a) Belladonna; (b)
Stramonium, 370, 371
444. Properties of Atropine, 371, 372
445. Tests for Atropine, Chemical and Physiological, 372-374
446. Statistics of Atropine Poisoning, 375
447. Accidental and Criminal Poisoning by Atropine--Use of
_Dhatoora_ by the Hindoos, 375, 376
448. Fatal Dose of Atropine, 376, 377
449. Action on Animals, 377
450. Action on Man, 377-380
451. Physiological Action of Atropine, 380
452. Diagnosis of Atropine Poisoning, 380
453. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 380
454. Treatment of Cases of Poisoning by Atropine, 380, 381
455. Separation of Atropine from Organic Matters, &c., 381

2. _Hyoscyamine._

456. Distribution of Hyoscyamine--Properties, 381-383
457. Pharmaceutical and other Preparations of Henbane, 383, 384
458. Dose and Effects, 384
459. Separation of Hyoscyamine from Organic Matters, 385

3. _Hyoscine._

460. Hyoscine, 385

4. _Solanine._

461. Distribution of Solanine, 385, 386
462. Properties of Solanine, 386
463. Solanidine, 386, 387
464. Poisoning from Solanine, 387
465. Separation from Animal Tissues, 387

5. _Cytisine._

466. The _Cytisus laburnum_, 387
467. Reactions of Cytisine, 388
468. Effects on Animals, 389
469. Effects on Man--Illustrative Cases, 389, 390

VII. THE ALKALOIDS OF THE VERATRUMS.

470. The Alkaloids found in the _Veratrum Viride_ and _Veratrum
Album_--Yield per Kilogram, 390-392
471. Veratrine--Cevadine, 392
472. Jervine, 393
473. Pseudo-jervine, 393
474. Protoveratridine, 393
475. Rubi-jervine, 394
476. Veratralbine, 394
477. Veratroidine, 394
478. Commercial Veratrine, 394, 395
479. Pharmaceutical Preparations, 395
480. Fatal Dose, 395
481. Effects on Animals--Physiological Action, 395, 396
482. Effects on Man--Illustrative Cases, 396
483. Symptoms of Acute and Chronic Poisoning, 396, 397
484. _Post-mortem_ Signs, 397
485. Separation of the Veratrum Alkaloids from Organic Matters, 397

VIII. PHYSOSTIGMINE.

486. The Active Principle of the Calabar Bean, 397, 398
487. Physostigmine or Eserine--Properties, 398, 399
488. Tests, 399
489. Pharmaceutical Preparations, 399, 400
490. Effects on Animals--On Man--The Liverpool Cases of Poisoning,
400
491. Physiological Action, 401
492. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 401
493. Separation of Physostigmine, 401, 402
494. Fatal Dose of Physostigmine, 402

IX. PILOCARPINE.

495. Alkaloids from the Jaborandi, 402
496. Pilocarpine, 402, 403
497. Tests, 403
498. Effects of Pilocarpine, 403, 404

X. TAXINE.

499. Properties of Taxine, 404
500. Poisoning by the Common Yew, 404
501. Effects on Animals--Physiological Action, 404
502. Effects on Man, 404, 405
503. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 405

XI. CURARINE.

504. Commercial Curarine--Properties, 405-407
505. Physiological Effects, 407
506. Separation of Curarine, 407, 408

XII. COLCHICINE.

507. Contents of Colchicine in Colchicum Seeds, 408, 409
508. Colchicine--Method of Extraction--Properties, 409
509. Tests, 409, 410
510. Pharmaceutical Preparations, 410
511. Fatal Dose, 410, 411
512. Effects of Colchicine on Animals, 411
513. Effects of Colchicum on Man--Illustrative Cases, 411, 412
514. Symptoms Produced by Colchicum--_Post-mortem_ Appearances,
412, 413
515. Separation of Colchicine from Organic Matters, 413

XIII. MUSCARINE AND THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLES OF CERTAIN FUNGI.

516. Description of the _Amanita Muscaria_--Use of it by the Natives
of Kamschatka, 413, 414
517. Cases of Poisoning by the Fungus itself, 414, 415
518. Muscarine--Its Properties and Effects, 415, 416
519. Antagonistic Action of Atropine and Muscarine, 416
520. Detection of Muscarine, 416, 417
521. The _Agaricus Phalloides_--_Phallin_, 417
522. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 417, 418
523. The _Agaricus Pantherinus_--The _Agaricus Ruber_--Ruberine
--Agarythrine, 418
524. The _Boletus Satanus_, or _Luridus_, 418
525. Occasional Effects of the Common Morelle, 418

Division II.--GLUCOSIDES

I. DIGITALIS GROUP.

526. Description of the _Digitalis Purpurea_, or Foxglove, 419
527. Active Principles of the Foxglove--The Digitalins, 419
528. Digitalein, 420
529. Digitonin--Digitogenin, 420
530. Digitalin, 420
531. Digitaletin, 420
532. Digitoxin--Toxiresin, 420, 421
533. Digitaleretin--Paradigitaletin, 421
534. Other Active Principles in Digitalis; such as Digitin,
Digitalacrin, Digitalein, &c., 421, 422
535. Reactions of the Digitalins, 422
536. Pharmaceutical Preparations of Digitalin, 422
537. Fatal Dose, 422-424
538. Statistics of Poisoning by Digitalis, 424
539. Effects on Man--Illustrative Cases, 424-427
540. Physiological Action of the Digitalins, 427
541. Local Action of the Digitalins, 427, 428
542. Action on the Heart and Circulation, 428, 429
543. Action of the Digitalins on the Muco-Intestinal Tract and other
Organs, 429
544. Action of Digitalin on the Common Blow-Fly, 429
545. Action of the Digitalins on the Frog’s Heart, 429, 430
546. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 430
547. Separation of the Digitalins from Animal Tissues, &c.--Tests,
Chemical and Physiological, 431

II. OTHER POISONOUS GLUCOSIDES ACTING ON THE HEART.

1. _Crystallisable Glucosides._

548. Antiarin--Chemical Properties, 432
549. Effects of Antiarin, 432
550. Separation of Antiarin, 432
551. The Active Principles of the Hellebores--Helleborin--
Helleborein--Helleboretin, 433
552. Symptoms of Poisoning by Hellebore, 433
553. Euonymin, 433
554. Thevetin, 434

2. _Substances partly Crystallisable, but which are not Glucosides._

555. Strophantin, 434
556. Apocynin, 434

3. _Non-Crystallisable Glucosides almost Insoluble in Water._

557. Scillain, or Scillitin--Adonidin, 434
558. Oleandrin, 435
559. Neriin, or Oleander Digitalin, 435
560. Symptoms of Poisoning by Oleander, 435, 436
561. The Madagascar Ordeal Poison, 436

4. _Substances which, with other Toxic Effects, behave like the
Digitalins._

562. Erythrophlein, 436

III. SAPONIN--SAPONIN SUBSTANCES.

563. The Varieties of Saponins, 436, 437
564. Properties of Saponin, 437
565. Effects of Saponin, 437, 438
566. Action on Man, 438
567. Separation of Saponin, 438, 439
568. Identification of Saponin, 439

DIVISION III.--CERTAIN POISONOUS ANHYDRIDES OF ORGANIC ACIDS.

I. SANTONIN.

569. Properties of Santonin, 439, 440
570. Poisoning by Santonin, 440
571. Fatal Dose, 440
572. Effects on Animals, 440
573. Effects on Man--Yellow Vision, 440, 441
574. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 441
575. Separation from the Contents of the Stomach, 441, 442

II. MEZEREON.

576. Cases of Poisoning by the Mezereon, 442

DIVISION IV.--VARIOUS VEGETABLE POISONOUS PRINCIPLES--NOT ADMITTING OF
CLASSIFICATION UNDER THE PREVIOUS THREE DIVISIONS.

I. ERGOT OF RYE.

577. Description of the Ergot Fungus, 442, 443
578. Chemical Constituents of Ergot--Ergotinine--_Ecboline_--
_Scleromucin_--Sclerotic Acid--Sclererythrin--Scleroidin--
Sclerocrystallin--Sphacelic Acid--Cornutin, 443-445
579. Detection of Ergot in Flour, 445
580. Pharmaceutical Preparations, 445
581. Dose, 446
582. Ergotism--Historical Notice of Various Outbreaks, 446, 447
583. Convulsive Form of Ergotism, 447
584. Gangrenous Form of Ergotism--The Wattisham Cases, 447, 448
585. Symptoms of Acute Poisoning by Ergot, 448
586. Physiological Action, as shown by Experiments on Animals, 448-450
587. Separation of the Active Principles of Ergot, 450

II. PICROTOXIN, THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLE OF THE _COCCULUS INDICUS_.

588. Enumeration of the Active Principles contained in the
_Menispermum Cocculus_, 451
589. Picrotoxin; its Chemical Reactions and Properties, 451, 452
590. Fatal Dose, 452
591. Effects on Animals, 452, 453
592. Effects on Man, 453
593. Physiological Action, 453
594. Separation from Organic Matters, 453, 454

III. THE POISON OF _ILLICIUM RELIGIOSUM_.

595. Dr. Langaard’s Researches, 454

IV. PICRIC ACID AND PICRATES.

596. Properties of Picric Acid, 454
597. Effects of Picric Acid, 454, 455
598. Tests, 455

V. CICUTOXIN.

599. Description of the _Cicuta Virosa_, 456
600. Effects on Animals, 456
601. Effects on Man, 456, 457
602. Separation of Cicutoxin from the Body, 457

VI. _ÆTHUSA CYNAPIUM_ (FOOL’S PARSLEY).

603. Dr. Harley’s Experiments, 457

VII. _ŒNANTHE CROCATA._

604. The Water Hemlock--Description of the Plant--Cases of
Poisoning, 457, 458
605. Effects of the Water Hemlock, as shown by the Plymouth Cases, 458
606. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 459

VIII. OIL OF SAVIN.

607. Effects and Properties of Savin Oil, 459
608. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 460
609. Separation and Identification, 460

IX. CROTON OIL.

610. Chemical Properties of Croton Oil, 461
611. Dose--Effects--Illustrative Cases, 461
612. _Post-mortem_ Appearances, 461
613. Chemical Analysis, 462

X. THE TOXALBUMINS OF CASTOR OIL SEEDS AND ABRUS.

614. The Toxalbumin of Castor Oil Seeds, 462
615. Toxalbumin of Abrus, 462, 463

XI. ICTROGEN.

616. Ictrogen, 463

XII. COTTON SEEDS.

617. Cotton Seeds as a Poison, 464

XIII. _LATHYRUS SATIVUS._

618. Poisonous Qualities of Vetchlings, 464, 465

XIV. ARUM--LOCUST-TREE--BRYONY--MALE FERN.

619. Arum Maculatum, 465
620. The Black Bryony, 465
621. The Locust Tree, 465
622. Male Fern 465, 466