PYRAMIDIUM. 



[ 546 ] 



QUININE. 



PYRAMIDIUM, Bridel.— A genus of 

 Funariacese (Acrocarpous Mosses), allied to 

 Funaria in habit, but diflfering in important 

 points. 



Pyramidium ietragonum, Brid. = Gymno- 

 stomum tefragonum, Schwagr. 



PYRENOMYCETES.— That portion of 

 the Ascomycetous and Coniomycetous Fungi 

 having a closed, nuclear fruit ; standing 

 opposed to the Discomycetes, with open 

 fruits, like the Angiocarpous and Gymno- 

 earpous Lichens. 



PYRENOTHEA, Fries.— A genus of 

 Limborieae (Angiocarjious Lichens), contain- 

 ing a number of species separated from Ver- 

 rucaria, Ach., on account of the spores being 

 free in the perithecia and not developed in 

 thecae. The bodies taken for spores are, 

 however, spermatia contained in sperma- 

 gonia, the sporiferous perithecia being appa- 

 rently unknown (see Lichens). 



BiBL. Leighton, Brit. Aug. Lichens, p. 65; 

 Tulasne, Ann. des Sc. nat. 3 ser. xvii. p. 217- 



Q. 



QUILL. — The quill of feathers possesses 

 considerable polarizing power ; the coloured 

 bands are, however, so broad that they are 

 better seen with the naked eye. 



See Feathers. 



QUININE. See Alkaloids, p. 26. 



lodo-disulphate, sulphate of iodo-quinine, 

 Herapathite. — This salt is prepared by dis- 

 solving disulphate of quinine in strong acetic 

 acid, warming the solution, dropping into it 

 an alcoholic solution of iodine carefully in 

 small quantities at a time, and placing the 

 mixture aside for some hours, when the 

 crystals separate. 



They dissolve in the heated mother-liquor, 

 also in hot alcohol, being again deposited on 

 cooling ; but they are not soluble in cold 

 alcohol or aether. 



They are so easily decomposed and altered 

 that they are with difficulty mounted. This 

 may, however, be eifected by cautiously 

 neutralizing the excess of acid in the mother- 

 liquor by solution of ammonia, taking care 

 not to precipitate the excess of the disulphate 

 of quinine ; a portion of the liquid contain- 

 ing the crystals is then transferred to a slide, 

 the liquid removed with blotting-paper, and 

 the crystals dried in a current of cold air. 

 They are then mounted in Canada balsam 

 rendered thin with sether,heat being avoided. 



The crystals are of a pale olive-green 

 colour (PI. 7- fig. I7)> and possess a more 



intense polarizing power than any other 

 known substance. The play of colom's pre- 

 sented when they are rolling over each other 

 whilst contained in a watch-glass, forms a 

 very beautiful sight, the colours varying 

 according to the relative positions of the 

 crystals to each other ; and when the latter 

 cross each other at a right angle, complete 

 blackness is produced. 



Dr. Herapath, who discovered this beau- 

 tiful salt, has also described a method of 

 making crystals of sufficient size to replace 

 tourmalines or Nicol's prisms. The ingre- 

 dients are, — as pure disulphate of quinine as 

 can be obtained, that from Messrs. Howard 

 and Kent being best ; strong acetic acid, of 

 sp. gr. 1042 J proof-spirit, composed of 

 equal bulks of rectified spirit of sp. gr. 

 '837 and distilled water; and tincture of 

 iodine, made by dissolving 40 grains of iodine 

 in 1 oz. of rectified spirit. The proportions are : 



Disulphate of quinine. ... 50 grains. 



Acetic acid 2 fluid ounces. 



Proof-spirit 2 fluid ounces. 



Tincture of iodine 50 drops. 



The disulphate of quinine is dissolved in the 

 acetic acid mixed with the spirit ; the solu- 

 tion heated to 130° F., and the tincture of 

 iodine immediately added in drops, the 

 mixtm'e being constantly agitated. 



The compound should be prepared in a 

 wide-mouthed Florence flask or matrass; and 

 the temperature should be maintained for a 

 little time after the addition of the iodine, 

 so that the solution should become perfectly 

 clear, and of a dark sherry colour. It should 

 then be set aside to crystallize in a room of 

 a uniform temperature of 45° to 50° F., and 

 kept from vibration. The latter may be 

 eff'ected by suspending the flask by the neck 

 with strong string, attaching this to a hori- 

 zontal cord stretching across the room from 

 one wall to the other; or placing the flask on 

 a steady support, lying upon a pillow. The 

 large crystalline plates form upon the surface 

 of the liquid, where they are allowed to 

 remain for twelve to twenty-four hours, until 

 they have acquired sufficient thickness. The 

 flask is then carefully removed without 

 shaking, and rested upon a gallipot. A 

 circular cover is then fastened by its edge to 

 the end of a glass rod with a little wax or 

 marine glue, and passed beneath one of the 

 crystalline films, the adherent mother-liquor 

 removed with blotting-paper, and the film 

 allowed to dry in a room at a temperature of 

 45° to 50° F. The cover and film are then 



