822 SOME POISONOUS PLANTS IN N.O. SOLANACEiE, iii. 



The remainder of this third fraction was found to melt 

 between 137° and loT'C, and was apparently a mixture of 

 atropine and nor-atropine. 



Many careful trials were made to isolate fractions melting 

 above 178°C.,from the mother-liquors of these aurichlorides; none, 

 however, could be obtained, and it must therefore be concluded 

 that the laevo and inactive scopolamines were absent. 



Estimation of the total Alkaloids. 



The modified method devised hy Dunstan and Brown (Trans. 

 Chem. Soc Lond , 75, 1899, 72) for the assay af alkaloids of the 

 Solanaceous plants, was employed for the estimation of the total 

 amount of alkaloids in the leaves. 



The finely powdered material was extracted with alcohol, and 

 the solution of the bases finally titrated with centinormal acid 

 and iodeosin indicator. 



Results. 



(a) 1911 leaves — 016% total alkaloids on plant dried at lOCC. 



(b) 1916 leaves— 0-17% total alkalaids on plant dried at lOO'C. 

 Equivalent to 0"154% total alkaloids on air-dried leaves. 

 Equivalent to 0033% total alkaloids on fresh leaves. 

 Alkaloids were detected also in extracts from the flowers, 



wood, and bark. 



Summary 



The leaves of Solandra lonyiflora are found to contain nor- 

 hyoscyamine as the chief alkaloid. This was previously isolated 

 and described by the author as a new alkaloid in 1907, under 

 the name of "solandrine"; and is now identified with the alka- 

 loid which Carr and Reynolds isolated in 1912, from other 

 solanaceous plants. Solandra also contains hyoscyamine in 

 lesser amount, and scopolamines are absent. The total amount 

 of alkaloid obtained was 017% in the leaves (dried at 100°C). 



In conclusion, the author desires to express his indebtedness 

 to Professor Sir Thomas Anderson Stuart, for laboratory facili- 

 ties afi'orded in carrying out this investigation. 



