266 JVf. Brandes on Atropium. [Apbil^ 



acid. If, however, there was only a sHght inaccuracy iu the 

 analysis, or if there had remained some free sulphmic acid in 

 the salt, this of course must make a great difference in the 

 result, the experiments being made with so small a quantity. I 

 therefore, thought it necessary to repeat my analysis with a 

 larger quantity of salt, for which purpose 1 dissolved a new 

 quantity of atropium in diluted sulphuric acid, and exposed the 

 solution to spontaneous evaporation. I obtained beautiful crys- 

 tals, which 1 washed with alcohol, and repeatedly pressed them 

 between fine blotting paper. Thus I obtained 18 grs. of sul- 

 phate of atropium. 



Five ^ains of this salt were carefully heated to expel the 

 water. The loss amounted to l-i- gr. which indicates 25 per 

 cent, water of crystaUization. 



Ten grains were dissolved in water, and decomposed by 

 muriate of barytes. The weight of the sulphate of barytes wa& 

 11 grs. equal to 36*13 per cent, of sulphuric acid. ai 



After the deduction of 25 water and 36*13 sulphuric acid, 

 there remains 38*87 for the atropium, and the composition of 

 sulphate of atropium w ill be : 



Atropium 38-87 



Sulphuric acid 36* 13 



Water 25*00 



100-00 



The close approximation in the results of both analyses must 

 evidently lead me to the conclusion that the error could not be 

 very great. My doubt as to the great saturating capacity of the 

 atropium induced me, however, to make a third experiment. I 

 took atropium, obtained by cooling a hot spirituous solution, put 

 it into some fresh alcohol, and added sulphuric acid until it was 

 dissolved. The spirituous solution was completely clear, and 

 yielded, after spontaneous evaporation, beautiful crystals of 

 sulphate of atropium. After washing them with ether until this 

 fluid ceased to redden litmus papei^ 1 dried the salt between fine 

 blotting paper. 



With this salt I repeated my analysis. By drying three grains 

 I found the water of crystallization amounting to nearly 24 per 

 cent. Three grains were dissolved in water, and the solution 

 reddened litmus paper slightly, notwithstanding repeated wash- 

 ing with ether. The sulphuric acid was precipitated by a so- 

 lution of muriate of barytes. The weight of the sulphate of 

 barytes, after exposing it to a red heat, was 3*25 grs. indicating 

 1*113 gr. of sulphuric acid, equal to 37*1 per cent. 



The composition of sulphate of atropium, according to this 

 analysis, is, therefore, 



