OF ALKALOIDS, ETC. 213 



selenite to show colour. Then the horizontal and vertical 



needles assume complementary tints (Fig. 12). 



An attempt was made to identify meconic acid by the 

 above method, after extracting from an organic mixture, to 

 which opium had been added, and which was successful. The 

 process employed was as follows : — 



Boiled with alcohol and a litde HNO3, filtered, added water, 

 distilled off alcohol, precipitated the meconic acid with Pb Ac^, 

 decomposed with H. S, evaporation to dryness, and crystallised 

 from alcohol. 



The filtrate from the lead meconate was shaken with benzine, 

 and the benzine residue crystallised from water and from alcohol. 

 Long needles of meconine were easily recognised. 



The benzine extract from the liquid made alkaline, and the 

 chloroform and amyl alcohol extract all yielding crystals, but they 

 could not be recognised. All contained meconine. 



AcoNiTiNE does not crystallise from either alcohol, water, or 

 petroleum ether. Its hydrochlorate crystallises with great 

 difficulty from water. A very lengthy evaporation is requisite. 

 The plate shows the crystals viewed by ordinary light, without 

 the polariser (Fig. 13). 



Aloeine crystallises from hot alcohol in small yello^u needles, 

 grouped in tufts, which depolarise very slightly. It may be 

 viewed either as a transparent or opaque object. The plate 

 shows detached crystals, seen with selenite (Fig. 14). 



Amygdaline differs in appearance, according whether it is crystal- 

 lised from alcohol or from water. From the latter, it forms 

 large, feathery crystals, like the distended tail of a bird, and 

 gives fine colours with the selenite. From alcohol, it forms 

 small, ill-defined stars, the components of which exhibit com- 

 plementary hues (Figs. 15 and 18). 



GEscuLiNE forms colourless needles, in stellate groups (Fig. 16). 



Anemonine crystalHses from hot alcohol in moss-like forms, which 

 depolarise completely, but give no colour without the selenite. 

 There are also some isolated crystals belonging to the trimetric 

 system. (Decomposed into anemonic acid by boiling with 

 alkalies) (Fig. 17). 



VOL. v. Q 



