148 Analysis of the Atropa Belladonna, 



bustibles, and particularly to that of the charcoal over that 

 of the oxygen in the principle of this plant soluble in alco- 

 hol ? — WiThout going the length of positively affirming it, 

 it is nevertheless certain that all the vegetable substances 

 which produce analogous effects are rich in charcoal, hy- 

 drogen, and azote, whereas substances that are highly oxy- 

 genized produce contrary effects. 



It must also be admitted, that many vegetable products 

 equally abundant in these two principles do not possess the 

 tfame virtues ; but the azote, which is always found asso- 

 ciated with hydrogen and carbon in the narcQtic plants, 

 does not exist, at least in the same quantity, in those as in the 

 others. 



Examination of that Part of the Belladonna which is insolu- 

 ble in Alcohol. 



1. This substance dissolved in water communicates to 

 it the property of frothing when agitated. 



2. Its solution is abundantly precipitated by the aqueous 

 infusion of galls. 



3. By the nitrate of barytes into a matter which is partly 

 soluble in the nitric«acid. 



4. By the muriate of lime into a precipitate entirely so- 

 luble in the nitric acid. 



5. This solution reddens turnsole paper. 



6. The nitrate of silver produces no effect on it. 



7. When burnt in a crucible, it leaves an alkaline and 

 hepatic charcoal. 



We may conclude from these effects, that this part of the 

 belladonna is composed of an anim<U matter, of sulphate of 

 potash, of acidulated oxalate with the same base, probably 

 some nitrate, and that it contains no muriate. We may also 

 conclude from these effects, that there are no earthy salts in 

 it, since the muriate of lime forms in it a precipitate, as 

 well as the nitrate of barytes. 



I have ascertained by some experiments on a larger scale, 

 that the precipitates produced in the solution of the sub- 

 stance in question by the nitrate of barytes, were in the 

 first instance oxalate of lime, and in the second sulphate 

 of barytes. 



The oxalate of lime had taken up with it a great quantity 

 of animal matter, which gave it a brown colour; which in- 

 dicates that this salt has a strong affinity with animal mat- 

 ters, and explains the reason of mural calculi, which, as we 

 all know, are composed of oxalate of lime, and are of a 

 much deeper colour than the other species of calculi. 



1 After 



