148 Scientific Intelligence, Sj'c. 



liquor may be evaporated to separate the last portions. — (Jahreshe' 

 Hcht, 1835.— 252.) 



2. JDelphinin. — Couerbe has obtained this principle by the follow- 

 ing process. The seeds of the Delphinium staphysagria, which 

 are gray or brownish, but not black, the latter containing little ac- 

 tive matter, were first subjected to the action of boiling alcohol. 

 The alcoholic extract, after distilling over the alcohol, was treated 

 with dilute sulphuric acid ; the filtered acid solution was precipitated 

 by alkali ; the precipitate dissolved after drying, in boiling alcohol ; 

 the solution treated with incinerated blood, filtered, and evaporated, 

 when the Delphinin remained of the same nature as that which 

 occurs in commerce. One French pound of the seeds affords 55 to 

 60 grains of such Delphinin. It was dissolved in water acidulated 

 with sulphuric acid, filtered and mixed up by drops with nitric acid, 

 which precipitated a dark brown or reddish as well as a black sub- 

 stance, by which the colour of the solution was greatly altered. 

 After twenty-four hours the precipitate had collected at the bottom 

 of the vessel, when the supernatant liquor was decanted. It was 

 precipitated with a very dilute solution of potash ; the precipitate 

 was well washed, dried, dissolved in absolute alcohol, filtered, and 

 evaporated, when a resinous, yellowish, stongly alkaline mass re- 

 mains, which may be moistened with a little water, lest some nitre 

 should still remain attached to it. Delphinin thus obtained is purer 

 than any hitherto procured, but is a mixture of two different bodies, 

 which may be separated by ether. This dissolves the Delphinin, 

 and leaves another substance, which Couerbe calls Staphisain. 

 Delphinin is a yellowish resin, but its powder is almost white. It 

 has a burning taste, and leaves the impression long behind it. It 

 cannot be crystallized, and melts at 248°. At a higher temperature 

 it decomposes. It is not affected by chlorine at common temperatures, 

 but at 302° it is decomposed, while it first becomes green, then dark 

 brown, and disengages muriatic acid : 150 parts of Delphinin ab- 

 sorbed 20 parts of muriatic acid gas. From which, and two other 

 trials, its atomic weight appears to be 26*5. It consists of carbon 

 76-69, Azote 5-93, Hydrogen 8*89, Oxygen 7-49. Staphisain is 

 an uncrystallized yellow substance. It melts at 312°. It is almost 

 insoluble in water, which, however, takes up some thousandth parts, 

 and imparts to it an acrid taste. Whether it has an alkaline re- 

 action has not been ascertained. It is soluble in acids, but is not 

 neutralized by them. Hot nitric acid converts it into a bitter 

 resinous substance. It consists of carbon 73*566, Azote 5-779, Hy- 

 drogen 8-709, Oxygen 11.946. (lb, 255.) 



3. Brazilin. — Chevreul has obtained the colouring matter of 

 Brazil wood, in the form of small yellowish red needles. — (lb. 317.) 



4. Cactin. — Voget has procured 30 per cent, of a carmine red 

 colouring matter from the flowers of the Cactus speciosus. It is 

 taken up with alcohol of 60 to 70 per cent. It is not dissolved by 

 ether and absolute alcohol. After the leaves have been treated with 

 alcohol, a mixture of alcohol and etlier takes up 5 to 10 per cent, of 

 a scarlet red colouring matter. Both are soluble in water. — (lb 318.) 



5. Urticin. — According to Knezaureck, the tops of the Urtica 



