172 Dr. Herapath on the Discovery of Quinine and Quinidine 



quinine, I determined upon attempting to bring this method prac- 

 tically into use for the detection of minute quantities of quinine in 

 organic fluids; and after more or less success by different methods 

 of experimenting, I have at length discovered a process by which 

 it is possible to obtain demonstrative evidence of the presence of 

 quinine, even if in quantities not exceeding the 100 1 000 th part of 

 a grain — in fact, in quantities so exceedingly minute, that all 

 other methods would fail in recognizing its existence. The same 

 process with a slight modification has also enabled me to prove 

 the fact, that quinidine escapes from the system by tre kidnies 

 in an unaltered state, which, as far as I am aware, has not 

 hitherto been observed, although it might have been almost 

 assumed from the great analogical resemblance existing between 

 these alkaloids. 



Chemical examination of the urine of a man suffering from 

 tetanus, in consequence of an injury to the great toe. Ampu- 

 tation was performed at the infirmary by Mr. Morgan. The 

 patient's name was 11. Alexander. 



The tetanic symptoms were treated by the exhibition of 5 

 grains of disulphate of quinine with | a grain of Cannabis Indica 

 every three hours ; he consequently took 40 grains of sulphate 

 of quinine in the period of twenty-four hours. 



The urine had a greenish- yellow appearance, and upon stand- 

 ing deposited a brownish-yellow sediment ; it was slightly acid, 

 and had a specific gravity of 1*032. The sediment examined by 

 the microscope showed prisms and lozenges of uric acid, with 

 amorphous urate of ammonia. 



The deposit treated upon the field of the microscope with 

 ammonia instantly became changed ; the crystals of uric acid 

 were rendered more clearly defined in consequence of the amor- 

 phous urates being dissolved. The phosphate of ammonia and 

 magnesia was subsequently deposited upon the slide as a cloudy 

 mass, when seen by the unassisted vision, but as a magma of 

 very minute radiating needles when magnified sixty diameters. 



The fluid urine was carefully decanted from the amorphous 

 and crystalline deposit. 



A. Half a pint of this urine was treated with liquor potassa? 

 until decidedly alkaline ; it was then repeatedly agitated with 

 pure washed sether ; the sethereal solution having been allowed 

 to separate by twelve hours' repose, was carefully removed by a 

 pipette, and then transferred to a counterpoised glass tube and 

 evaporated by a warm water bath ; '79 grain of extract was left. 



B. A magma of phosphates and adhering alkaloid still re- 

 mained above the urinous substratum ; this was also removed by 

 a pipette and transferred to a porcelain capsule ; evaporated to 

 dryness at 212°, and this residue exhausted by sether; the 



