Analysis of the Atropa Belladonna. 145 



anil presents a smooth and polished fracture like that of 

 the resins. It burns with decrepitation, becomes soft, and 

 gives out vapours of the smell produced by horn when 

 subjected to the same operation. 



3. The juice of belladonna, distilled until reduced to 

 the consistence of liquid extract, only furnished a water 

 which had a fetid j herbaceous taste, and by no means the 

 acerbity of that of tobacco. The only re-agent among all 

 those resorted to, which slightly disturbed it, was acetate 

 of lead. 



4. The juice concentrated to the consistence of extract 

 having been treated by alcohol, a part was dissolved: the 

 Solution deposited upon cooling, crystals of nitrate of potash 

 and a little muriate of potash. 



The alcohol separated from these crystals of nitrate of 

 potash^ and evaporated, left as a residue a brownish yellow 

 matter of an extremely bitter and nauseous taste, which, on 

 being taken up again by alcohol well dephlegrriated, left a 

 new quantity of insoluble matter, and also deposited some 

 crystals of the same salt* 



The matter cleansed as much as possible by the above 

 process, rrom the greatest part of the saltpetre and from 

 the substance insoluble in alcohol, I evaporated the latter, 

 and submitted the residue to the following experiments : 



1 . It is dissolved abundantly and speedily in water, and 

 it is even deliquescent in the air. 



2. The solution is of a yellowish brown; it has a very 

 bitter and disagreeable taste. 



3. It reddens in a very intetise manner turnsole paper. 



4. It is precipitated in abundance by the alcoholic so- 

 lution of gall nuts, and is not so by the acetate of lead 

 when the latter is sufficiently diluted in water ; because, as 

 this matter contains a little muriate of potash, it would 

 precipitate the acetate of lead without this precaution. 



5. This solution mixed with sulphuric acid diffused a 

 very sensible smell of acetic acid. 



6*. The same solution is precipitated by the nitrate of 

 Silver in a true muriate of silver. 



7. Caustic potash develops in the solution of this sub- 

 stance a fetid smell* very like that of an old ley which has 

 passed over linen and begins to turn putrid : ammoniacal 

 vapours also rise, which may be made perceptible by weak 

 nitric acid, presented at some distance from the mixture. 



8. The addition of some drops of sulphate of iron gives 

 a much deeper colour to the solution. 



9. The extract itself exposed to burning coals, bubbles 

 Vol. 36. No. 143. August 1810. K up, 



