Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles^ 601 



Iodine and Strychnia.— The properties and composition of this al- 

 kaWy its insolubility, and the facility with which it forms definite com- 

 pounds and crystallizable salts, were the reasons for selecting it in 

 preference to others in commencing the investigation. Strychnia 

 triturated with half its weight of iodine became of a reddish brown 

 colour ; distilled water was added and the trituration continued. 

 The filtered solution was colourless, and neither acid nor alkaline, 

 and exhibited but slight traces of iodine or strychnia. The mat- 

 ter remaining on the filter was treated with boiling water, which 

 became of a light rose colour ; when filtered and evaporated it left a 

 very light residue. It consisted of iodide with a small portion of 

 hydriodate of strychnia, as was afterwards proved. 



The brown matter insoluble in water was subjected to the action 

 of boiling alcohol ; it dissolved entirely, and the solution was of an 

 orange yellow colour : by cooling it deposited a great quantity of 

 small laminated crystals, of an orange yellow colour and resembling 

 aiirum musivum. More and similar crystals were obtained by eva- 

 poration ; but quite at the end of the operation white acicular crystals 

 were procured which were hydriodate of strychnia; both these 

 kinds of crystals may be obtained by the direct action of alcohol on 

 a mixture of iodine and strychnia. 



This laminated substance has the following properties : it is in- 

 soluble in cold water, and very slightly soluble in boiling water ; 

 it is but little dissolved by weak alcohol, its best solvent is strong 

 boiling alcohol ; on cooling the greater part of it separates in 

 micaceous scales ; it is insoluble in sulphuric aether. 



Its taste is at first but slight, but after a certain time it is bitter 

 and slightly astringent. It is infusible at 212°, and at all temper- 

 atures below its point of decomposition ; when heated upon platina 

 foil, it softens, swells, yields iodine, and chars almost at the same 

 time, emitting the smell peculiar to organic salifiable bases when 

 decomposed by heat. 



Acids, according to their nature and concentration, act differently 

 on this substance. In general when they are very dilute and cold, 

 they do not act sensibly upon it ; but by long ebullition they se- 

 parate the iodine and unite with the strychnia, which may be pre- 

 cipitated by ammonia. 



Concentrated nitric acid, even when cold, separates iodine and 

 destroys or alters the organic matter ; concentrated sulphuric acid 

 produces the same effect, but not so rapidly. Concentrated hydro- 

 chloric acid has no effect upon this substance when cold, but when 

 heated it combines with the strychnia and separates the iodine. 



Ammonia does not act upon this substance, either cold or hot ; 

 and potash and soda affect it only when heated ; a little strychnia 

 is separated, and iodide of potassium or sodium remains in solution. 

 By the successive action of acids and alkalis upon the micaceous 

 compound, it is eventually decomposed, and they show that it is an 

 iodide of strychnia. 



The proportions of the iodine and strychnia, which exist in com- 



