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Laboratory experiments were developed to introduce students to the quantitation of drugs of abuse by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Undergraduate students were introduced to internal standard quantitation and the LC-MS/MS method optimization for cocaine. Cocaine extracted from paper currency was analyzed with a simple and rapid LC-MS/MS method. Students in advanced laboratories determined the amount of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone on currency in addition to cocaine. The LC-MS/MS method has a short run time (2.5 min) to allow for a high throughput of student samples.

Electrical stimulation of the visceral ganglion of the mussel Mytilus edulis caused cilia on the lateral epithelium of the gill to beat faster. This effect was blocked by cocaine, physostigmine, hyoscyamine, and acetylcholine but not by tubocurarine. These agents did not block the cilioexcitatory effect of serotonin.

Local application of guanethidine to the eye results in miosis. The sympathicolytic action of guanethidine on the pupil was proved by the consistent appearance of a Horner's syndrome after instillation of a 10% solution into the conjunctival sac. Lack of cocaine mydriasis and unimpaired adrenaline mydriasis after guanethidine application are further evidence of this mode of action. Guanethidine is the first drug that can be consistently relied upon to produce miosis by inhibiting sympathetic impulses to the intraocular pupillary muscles; it also inhibits sympathetic impulses to Horner's muscle of the upper lid. It is a reliable sympathicolytic agent for testing the reaction of abnormal pupils.