536 LAXJUAOEM. 



ing the groups of stone-cells, and may in each case be due to tannic 

 matter. 



Chemical Composition — Greeuheart bark contains an alkaloid 



which has long been regarded as peculiar, under the name of Bihirine 



ov Behirine. It was however shown by Walz in I860 to be apparently 



identical with Buxine, a substance discovered as early as 18:30 in the 



bark and leaves of the Common Box, Buxus sempervirens L. In 1809 



the observation of Walz was to some extent confirmed by one of us^ 



who further demonstrated that Pelosine, an alkaloid occurrino' in the 



stems and roots of Cissampelos Pareira L. and Chondochndron iomen- 



, tosum Ruiz et Pavon (p. 28), is undistinguishable from the alkaloids of 

 greenheart and box. 



The alkaloid of bibiru bark, which may be conveniently prepared 

 froni the crude sulphate used in medicine under the name oi Sulphate of 

 Bihirine, is a colourless amorphous substance, the composition of which 

 is indicated by the formula C'E'^NOl It is soluble in 5 parts of 

 absolute alcohol, in 13 of ether, and in 1400 (1800, Walz) of boiling 

 ^yater, the solution in each case having a decidedly alkaline reaction on 

 litmus. It dissolves readily in bisulphide of carbon, as well as in 

 dilute acids. The salts hitherto known are uncrystallizable. The solu- 

 tion of a neutral acetate affords an abundant wdiite precipitate on the 

 addition of an alkaline phosphate, nitrate or iodide, of iodo-hydrargyrate 



or platino-cyanide of potassium, perchloride of mercury, or of nitric or 

 iodic acid. 



Maclagan, one of the earliest investigators of greenheart, has obtained 

 m co-operation with Gamgee^ certain alkaloids from the zvood of the 



^^^5^'->3 *^ 4*^"^ ^^ which these chemists have assigned the formula 

 C'^H'^NO' and the name Nedandrla. Two other alkaloids, the charac- 

 ters of which have not yet been fully investigated, are stated to have 

 been obtained from the same source. 



Bihiric Acid, which Maclagan obtained from the seeds, is described 

 as a colourless, crystalline, deliquescent substance, fusing at 150° C. and 

 volatile at 200° C, then forming needle-shaped groups. 



Commerce— The supplies of greenheart bark are extremely un- 

 certain, and the drug is scarcely to be found in the market. It has 

 been imported in barrels containing 80 to 8Hb. each, or in bags holdiug 



I to I cwt. "^ 



^^^^— The bark has been recommended as a bitter tonic and 

 iebrifuge, but is hardly ever employed except in the form of what is 

 called Sulphate of Bihirine, which, as we have said, is crude SidjM^ 

 of Buxine^ It is a dark amorphous substance which, having while m 

 a syrupy state been spread out on glazed plates, is obtained in thm 

 translucent laminae. We find it to yield scarcely one-third of its vveigM 

 of the pure alkaloid. 



r,m2^tl^^''iKlT. ./r,A,y„,o/. jiU. piar. 3 Mr. W. H. Campbell, of G^ovfoj^ 



X n87m 10^^^^^^) ^^^ ' ^^'"'•»'- •^«""'- Df'merara. has assnri.l me that neith t^^^ 

 ■^ma-2^i . , l^'-^'k nor ts alkaloid is hekl m e.tee:n m 



Phai m. Jourv. xu (1S70) 19. the colony. -D.H. 



