ON THE MYDRIATIC ALKALOIDS.

By ALBERT LADENBURG.


We translate the following important article, says the _Chemists'
Journal_, from the _Moniteur Scientifique_ of last month. It may be
explained for the sake of our student readers that the word _mydriatic_
is derived from the Greek _mudriasis_, which means paralysis of the
pupil.

The synthetical researches which I have undertaken with a view to
explain the constitution of atropine have shown me the necessity of
studying the connection of atropine with the other alkaloids, which have
an analogous physiological action. According to the early researches we
could not discover any of these relationships which only become evident
when we come to study the new discoveries which have been made in
connection with the tropines, to which class belong both duboisine
and hyoscyamine, which, although differing from atropine, are equally
mydriatic in their action.


I.--ATROPINE.

Discovered by Mein in 1831 in the roots of belladonna. More thoroughly
studied some time after by Geiger and Hesse, who confirmed Mein's
results. Liebig next published an analysis of the alkaloid, which was
afterward shown to be incorrect. He consequently modified his