Dr. Blyth o» the Composition of Narcotine. 375 



however, took place on ebullition in ammonia. The precipi- 

 tate, separated by filtration from its dark mother-liquor and 

 washed with distilled water, was dissolved in weak hydro- 

 chloric acid, and alter boiling with animal charcoal, was again 

 filtered and precipitated by potash. The base thus obtained 

 was in the form of a white, extremely hygroscopic powder. 



0*2145 grm. of this powder, dried at 100° C, gave car- 

 bonic acid 0-506, water = 0-1 36. 



In 100 parts. 

 Found. Calculated. 



Carbon =64-33 65-62 



Hydrogen = 7-00 5*77 



As the difference between the carbon and hydrogen found 

 and calculated amounted to more than one per cent., I imme- 

 diately prepared a platinum double salt directly from the base, 

 to compare its analysis with that of the original platinum com- 

 pound. 



0-9255 grm. of this salt gave platinum 0*1455= 15-73 pla- 

 tinum per cent. 



The platinum per cent, in the original salt amounted to 

 18-10 grms. 



0-3213 grm. burned with chromate of lead gave carbonic 

 acid 0-5195, water 0-12. 



In 100 parts. 

 Found. Calculated. 



Carbon =44-09 40-38 



Hydrogen = 4*15 3-73 



The two platinum salts have therefore a totally different con- 

 stitution. 



If an atomic weight of the base be calculated from 15-73, 

 the platinum per cent, derived from the second platinum salt, 

 the number obtained is 7846, from which, with the carbon 

 and h^idrogen found in the same platinum salt, the following 

 formula is deduced, C4gH25NOj4, HCL + PtClg. 



This formula, however, expresses the composition of platin- 

 chloride of narcotine. 



The same resemblance in composition is shown by a com- 

 parison of the per-centage of carbon of the base separated 

 from the platinchloride of narcogenin and of that of narcotine. 



