BY JAMES M. PETRIE. 337 



Extraction of the alkaloid. 



The leaves and fruits were treated separately. The air-dried material was 

 brought to a state of fine powder by passing through a grinding mill, and during 

 tliis operation considerable discomfort was produced by the irritating effects of 

 tlie dust on tlie mucous tnembranes. 



The powdered plant material was transferred to large percolatoi-s and 

 macerated with cold 70 % alcohol : this procedure was continued till the spirit 

 drawn off ceased to contain alkaloid. In tiiis way 24 litres of alcoholic extract 

 were obtained, and this was distilled under reduced pressure at a temperature 

 below 40° C. 



The residue in tlie stills consisted of a thick black tarry mass, and this was 

 )Miured into hot water. When the aqueous mass was left to settle a considerable 

 c|uantity of resins was deposited, and this was washed repeatedly by decautation 

 till the Uuid no longer gave alkaloid reactions. The washings were concentrated 

 and added to the main fluid. 



This clear aqueous fluid was daik red in colour, slightly acid in reaction, 

 and gave strong evidence of the presence of an alkaloid. 



The faintly acid, aqueous fluid was then completely shaken out with ether 

 in successive small volumes which removed colouring matter, chlorophyll, resins 

 and fatty oils. This acid ethereal extract, measuring 10 litres, when distilled 

 and dried, left a hard brown solid mass, weighing 20 gms. 



The aqueous fluid was then made alkaline with sodium carbonate, and again 

 extracted with ether, until the last ethereal solution contained no alkaloid. In 

 this way tlie wliole of the alkaloid was removed by the ether. The voluminous 

 ethereal solution was distilled, the ether recovered, and the viscous .syrup re- 

 maining in the still was transferred to a beaker. This residue which was dark 

 brown in colour and resinous, was treated with faintly acidulated water, in which 

 the alkaloid dissolved, leaving the resinous portion insoluble. From this acid 

 Solution the whole of the alkaloid was precipitated by .sodium carbonate: it was 

 then removed in solution by shaking up with ether, and the ethereal fluid dis- 

 tilled to dryness. This dry residue was pale amber-coloured and entirely amor- 

 ]>lious, and when a second time it was extracted with acidulated water, sodium 

 carbonate precipitated the alkaloid in white flocculent particles. These were re- 

 moved, and dissolved in ether, from which the alkaloid was finally obtained as 

 a white horny substance. It was then dried and weighed. 



The ifieJd of alkaloid. — From 2.8 kilograms of the leaves 50 milligrams of 

 the amorphous alkaloid were obtained, or 0.002% of the air-dried leaf-powder. 



The beans gave a much larger quantity — 200 grams fit' this material yielded 

 87 milligrams of the alkaloid, or O.OSf^r of the air-dried beans. 



Properties of the alkaloid. 



Phi/sical. — The substance obtained by evaporation of the ethereal solution 

 from the leaves, and that from the beans, appeared to be identical, and consisted 

 of a semi-transparent amorphous mass, almost white in colour. 



It was soluble in alcohol, ether, ethyl acetate, chlorofonn. amyl alcohol and. 

 acidulated water, Imt quite insoluble in ilistilled water alone. 



The solutions of the l>ase exhibited a strong alkaline reaction and posse.«se-d 

 an intensely bitter taste. The ililute acid solutions were readily and completely 

 precipitated by sodium carbonate, or sodium hydioxidc, while ammonium hydroxide 



