172 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



gallic acid, hence it is concluded that the new alcali existed in 

 the seed as a gallate. 



Veratrine was found in the other plants before-mentioned. 

 It is white, pulverulent, has no odour, but excites violent 

 sneezing. It is very acrid but not bitter ; it produced violent 

 vomitings in very small doses, and according to some experi- 

 ments, a few grains may cause death. It is very little soluble 

 in cold water, boiling water dissolves about ^^j^^ part, and 

 becomes acrid to the taste. It is very soluble in alcohol, and 

 rather less soluble in ether. It fuses at 50° C=zl22° Fahrenheit, 

 and then appears like wax ; on cooling it becomes an amber - 

 coloured translucid mass : heated more highly it swells, decom- 

 poses, and burns ; decomposed by oxide of copper, it gives no 

 trace of nitrogen. It acts on test papers like an alcali, and 

 forms uncrystallizable salts by evaporation; these salts appear 

 like a gum. The super-sulphate only seems to present 

 crystals. Strong solutions of these salts are partially decom- 

 posed by water ; veratrine is thrown down and the solution 

 becomes acid. The sulphate appears composed of 



Veratrine 93.723 100 



Sulphuric acid 6.227 '. 6.6441 



but excess of acid was present, and supposing it aa acid salt, 

 and in analogy with those of brucine, the neutral salt will be 



Veratrine 100 



Sulphuric acid . . 3.322 

 The muriate contains 



Veratrine 95.8606 ...... 100 



Muriatic acid .. 4.1394 4.3181. 



Iodine, by acting on veratrine, produces an hydriodate and 

 an iodate ; chlorine produces a muriate and a chlorate. 



Ultimately, cevadilla was found to contain elaine, stearine, 

 cevadic acid, wax, acid gallate of veratrine, yellow colouring 

 matter, gum, lignin, and ashes. 



White hellebore on analysis, in the same manner gave very 

 nearly the same results. Starch was found in it in addition to 

 the other principles, and the ashes varied a little in the salts 

 they contained. Both contained carbonate of lime, phosphate 



