BY J. M. PETRIE. 149 



distillation under diminished pressure. The extract gave all the 

 general alkaloid reactions, and smelt strongly of tobacco. The 

 alkaloid was completely removed from this extract by petroleum 

 spirit (b.p. under 45°C) after making alkaline with sodium 

 hydroxide. From this coloured solution, the alkaloid was care- 

 fully purified without loss, by shaking it into water and petro- 

 leum spirit successively, many times, and finally obtained as a 

 colourless, aqueous solution. This solution was slightly alkaline 

 and possessed the odour of nicotine. It was then titrated with 

 tenth-normal acid and alkali, and gave an equivalent of 2 c.c. of 

 acid neutralised by the alkaloid. If this quantity be calculated 

 as nicotine, it represents 0-0324 gm., and is 0'124 per cent, of 

 the plant (dried at 100°). 



A second sample, from the Castlereagh River, in the Coonam- 

 ble district, was obtained from Mr. Breakwell, of the Department 

 of Agriculture. This sample had been spread out to dry in the 

 air to avoid mould in transit, and when received it contained 

 only 9 per cent, of moisture. The whole of the material, con- 

 sisting of leaves and stalks, in this case was subjected to dis 

 tillation in a current of steam, the powdered plant being first 

 mixed with 0*5 per cent, sodium hydroxide in solution, and a 

 large excess of milk of lime. The whole of the alkaloid passed 

 into the distillate; and the residue in the still being free from 

 alkaloid, showed that no non-volatile alkaloid existed in the 

 plant. The voluminous distillate contained much ammonia, 

 which is derived from the cleavage of amido compounds, and this 

 free ammonia was eliminated by passing a current of air through 

 the solution for many hours. The alkaloid was next converted 

 into oxalate, and the fiuid concentrated at a low temperature to 

 about 300 c.c. From this solution ether removed the alkaloid, 

 and the ether extract was cai'efully purified and dried. The ether 

 was then slowly removed, and the residue dried to constant 

 weight; 0'07 gm. was obtained, which represented O'Oll per 

 cent, of the plant-material dried at 100°C. 



Another quantity was collected for me, near Picton, about 50 

 miles from Sydnes', by Mr. E. Cheel, of tlie National Herbarium. 

 This consisted of fresh, green leaves and stalks, with 72 per cent. 



