BY JAMES M. PETRIE. 153 



Therefore, it will be seen by these comparisons, that the 

 alkaloid of Donjphoni differs from that of the closely related 

 genera in the absence of a first, or tetanic stage. But in all 

 cases they are alike in their later stages. Many plants of the 

 N.O. Lauraceae, on the other hand, were shown by Greshoff 

 (16j to contain laurotetanine, an alkaloid of the convulsive 

 group. 



Relation to other Alkaloids. 



(i) A consideration of the properties of the alkaloid from 

 Doryphord brings out the following features. {(i) The simi- 

 larity of its properties to those of its nearest botanical ally — 

 the atherospermine of Zeyer. (6) The molecular formula 

 comes nearest to hydroxycodeine, CisHoiNO*. This was 

 obtained by Knorr, through the oxidation of codeine, and 

 discovered by Dobbi^e and Lauder(17), last year, in the 

 mother-liquor of the opium alkaloids, after all the other 

 members had been eliminated, (r) The formula lies also very 

 close to CioH-jiNOi, given by Boehm(i8) to tubocurare, which is 

 a brown amorphous base, bitter and poisonous. {d) It also 

 approaches that of Aston's laureline (CioHo,NO.-!), as well as 

 (e) members of the hydrastine group of alkaloids. Of the latter 

 group, canadine(C„oH...iN04), is a hydroberberine, an alkaloid 

 found in the Berberidacepe, Ranunculacese, and Menispermacese 

 It resembles berberine in the yellow colour of its powder, and 

 solutions, as also that of its salts, {f) In the morphine group, 

 the formula approaches papaverine(C2oH2iN04). 



(ii) On the other hand, the properties of the alkaloid diverge 

 from the characteristic properties of the above compounds, in 

 the following way : — (a) The molecular formula, and melting 

 point are far removed from Zeyers figures for atherosper- 

 mine. (6) It does not yield the characteristic colour reactions 

 of codeine, and hydroxycodeine melts at about 51 '^ C. (c) It 

 does not show the typical curare action on the receptive sub- 

 stance of the motor nerve endings in muscle, when adminis- 

 tered to frogs, id) Unlike laureline, it does not produce con- 

 vulsions, (r) The physiological action excludes the hydrastine 



