BY J. M. PETRIE. 821 



mass of pale yellow neeHle-shaped crystals was obtained, possess- 

 ing the constant melting-point of 220°C, at which temperature 

 the crystals decomposed. The melting-point of the picrate of 

 Carr and Reynolds' nor-hyoscyamine, and also that of Mei'ck's 

 pseudo-hvoscvamine, was 220°C. 



Nor-hyoscijamiiie oxalate. — This salt was prepared from the 

 aurichloride. It crystallised from water and acetone in long, 

 colourless, prismatic needles, which melted at 243-244°C. The 

 melting-point of Carr and Reynolds' oxalate was 245°C. 



Second Fraction. 



Hyoscyaniine. — The second fraction consisted of aurichloride 

 crystals with melting-point 165°C. They were brilliant golden- 

 yellow prisms, and were anhydrous. 



A portion was converted into the picrate as before, and after 

 two crystallisations, consisted of long, pale yellow needles, which 

 melted at 163°C with decomposition. 



Hyoscyamine aurichloride and picrate were prepared as con- 

 trols from pure hyoscj-amine, specially obtained from Messrs. 

 Burroughs Wellcome's laboratories in London, through the 

 kindness of the Sydney manager, Mr. Hector, and the author's 

 best thanks are due to them. The melting-point of this pure 

 hyosc3'amine aurichloride was IGS^C, and the picrate 163°C. 



This second fraction, therefore, consists entirely of hyo- 

 scyamine. 



Third Fraction. 



Nor-atropine and atropine. — This fraction of the gold salts 

 consisted of flaky yellow ci-ystals, which were much paler in 

 colour than the two previous fractions, and, unlike the latter, 

 were not shining and glistening in appearance, but dull, opaque, 

 and lustreless. From this, a small quantity of crystals was 

 separated, which melted at 156-157°C. The nor atropine of Carr 

 and l^eynolds is stated to have a melting-point of 157°C. 



Another small fraction was obtained with a melting-point of 

 137°C. Tlie melting-point of atropine gold salt is ]37°C. This 

 was checked by preparing the aurichloride from a sample of 

 Messrs. Burroughs Wellcfjine's pure, optically inactive alkaloid. 



