RUBIACEZ. 195 
hich he thinks may possibly be a decomposition product of : 
rlucoside. 
In a paper read before the Pharmaceutical Society in 1886, 
~ Naylor gave the following account of further experiments 
ade with the alkaloid hymenodictyonine :— 
“On gradually adding a weak solution of iodine in ether to 
an ethereal solution of the alkaloid, the iodine became decolor- 
zed and a deep orange-red precipitate was formed, which 
“quickly agglutinated and presented the appearance of a black 
‘resinous mass. By continuing the addition of iodine until it 
ceased to be decolorized an excess could readily be recognised. 
Nhe resultant varnish-like mass was washed freely with ether, 
nN Which it was but little soluble, and then treated with hot 
Icohol. It was soluble to a considerable extent in cold 
8 of cooling, a crystalline derivative would separate. The 
xpectation was not realized, for the substance that separated 
oment of its formation, but toward the end of the reaction 
several particles began to coalesce. This viscid mass was 
eated precisely as the previous one, and refused to be coaxed 
crystallizing. 
“A third attempt was made by svessipttabing a weak solution 
the alkaloid in ether, with rather less iodine than would be 
uired to produce complete precipitation. The precipitate 
subjected to the same treatment as the previous ones, and 
mbled them in the Sawer se ocka of me separa- 
ons from alcohol, 
» definite form offered by | the varying econ 
ch they were — 
