338 THE ACTIVE PEIXCIPLE OF EKVTHKOPHLOEUM LABOUCHERU, 



precipitated only concentrated solutions. These precipitates were white opaque 

 flocculent masses, which on standing in the air for a short time became viscous. 



Chemical. — Very dilute solutions of the salts of the alkaloid gave dense pre- 

 cipitates with the following characteristic reagents : — Wagner's solution, Mayer's 

 solution, phosphotungstii' acid, phosphomolybdic acid, picric acid, and tannic 

 acid. 



Sulphuric acid produced a bright yellow colour. 



Potassium permanganate and concentrated s\ilphuric acid yielded a deep purple 

 to red solution, somewhat similar to the strychnine reaction, with very slow re- 

 duction of the reagent. 



Potassium bichromate and <'()ncentrated sulphuric acid rapidly produced a 

 greenish blue colour which remained permanent. 



The preparation of the hydrochloride of the alkaloid was next tried. About 

 40 milligrams of the pure dry amorphous alkaloid were dissolved in dry ether. 

 Into this solution wa-s passed a current of ])ure. dried, hydrochloric acid gas. 

 A brown oily sediment gradually settled to the bottom of the vessel and on re- 

 moval of the ether there wiis left a brown viscous residue which on examination 

 proved to be the hydrochloride of the alkaloid. Many attempts were made to 

 crj'stallise this substance, but it still retained its viscous nature. Nor were the 

 efforts to transform it to sulphate and picrate salts more successful. 



D.eternihiatioii uf the chemical equivalent. — For this purpose a portion of the 

 puritied white amorphous alkaloid was dissolved in pure ethyl alcohol an<l water, 

 treated with excess of centinormal hydrochloric acid, then carefully neutralised 

 with centinormal soda and ni(>thyl orange indicator. 



0.08 gm. alkaloid required for neutralisation 8cc. .OIN HCl 



ef|uivalent to 0.0029 gm. HCl 



100 gms. alkaloid woidd rer|uire . . .' 3.()4 



1000 gms. alkaloid would require 3(i.4 „ 



1 mol. wt. = 36.4 ., 



In formula |B].T1C1 iM|iiivaU'nt weight of alkaloid == lOOU (ajiprox.) 

 [B]2.HC1 ,. ' ., = 500 



Examination of the remaining solutions. 



The ethereal extract, previously obtained by shaking out the acid solution 

 with ether, was distilled, and from tliis 20 gms. of residue were obtained. This 

 residue was i-edissolved in ether and treated with sodium carbonate solution. The 

 alkaline liquid was agitated and run off a number of times, and fliese various 

 solutions were notable for their l)rilliant colours, varying from riolct to rrimxon- 

 red. All tiiese colours, however, soon became a uniform reddisli-brown, antl 

 when tlie solutions were acidulated with hydrochloric acid, a liark brown oil 

 fomied on the surface, and a liglit brown curdy precipitate was deposited. 



This preci|iitafe was soluble in alkalies aiul alcohol, forming a deep red 

 solution, t'oiicciit rated sid|)luiric acid also dissolved it as a bright ;/ellnw solu- 

 tion, w'liich on dilution formed a riolet prwipitate ; and ferric chloride jiroduced 

 an intense ijreen colour. 



The aqueous solution, after extracting the alkaloid with ether from the 

 alkaline solution, possessed a deep red colour, was fi-ec from the bitter taste of 

 the original solution, and gave no alkaloidal reactions. It wius precipitated by 

 lead acetate solution, and aftc'r the removal of the lead by hydrogen sulphide in 

 the usual way, bolli precipitate and filtrate were examined. 



