Large  quantities  of  expectoration  were  obtained  from  cases  of
phthisis  which  presented  the  physical  signs  of  excavation  along
with  the  symptoms  of  gastritis,  and  immediately  mixed  with
an  excess  of  absolute  alcohol.  After  a  lapse  of  several  weeks
the  material  was  filtered  through  linen,  and  the  semisolid
residue  extracted  with  distilled  water  and  added  to  the  original
filtrate,  the  whole  being  afterward  evaporated  to  a  small
bulk  in  vacuo  at  a  temperature  of  38°  C.  The  syrupy  Hquid
obtained  in  this  manner  was  then  thrown  into  a  large  excess  of
absolute  alcohol,  and  the  coagulated  proteids  separated  by
filtration  and  again  extracted  with  distilled  water.  This  pro-
cess was  repeated  several  times,  and  finally  the  alcoholic  pre-
cipitate was  collected  and  dried  in  vacuo.  In  this  manner  a
yellowish-brown  powder  was  obtained,  which  was  easily  soluble
in  distilled  water,  of  a  neutral  or  slightly  acid  reaction,  and
possessed  of  the  general  chemical  properties  of  proteose  matter.
When  this  substance  was  injected  into  animals  in  the  propor-
tion of  0.1  gram  to  0.3  gram  per  kilo  of  the  body  weight,
is  was  usually  followed  by  convulsions,  and  death  often  ensued
from  respiratory  failure  within  half  an  hour.  The  necropsy
revealed  intense  congestion  of  the  whole  of  the  gastrointestinal
tract  with  numerous  haemorrhages  both  there  and  in  the  sub-
stance of  the  kidney.  No  lardaceous  degeneration  was  ever
obtained  as  the  result  of  repeated  injections  of  the  toxic
substance.
(i)  The  inrriAL  Dyspepsia.
