390 APOCYNACEZ. 
probably constituents of the milky juice of the tree. (Pharma- 
cographia, 2nd Hd., p. 422.) 
Hesse has since separated from Dita bark two other bases, 
Echitamine and Lchitenine. He now reports that Ditamine 
exists in the bark in the proportion of 0-04 per cent. It is 
readily soluble in dilute acids, and differs from the alkaloids 
associated with it in being precipitated from its acid solution, 
by ammonia, Its formula deduced from the analysis of its 
platinochloride, is C'*H!9NO?, 
Echitamine is obtained from the liquor from which the 
ditamine has been extracted. On neutralizing this liquor, con- 
centrating it by evaporation, and then adding hydrochloric 
acid and sodium chloride, impure echitamine hydrochloride is 
precipitated. The base isolated from this precipitate, and 
then purified, crystallizes in thick vitreous prisms, answering 
- to the formula C**H?8N*0*+4H*0O. When dried in vacuo 
these part with three molecules of water, leaving a strong 
base of the formula C*H**N*O*+-H?0,orC#H*°N?0°, which 
the author calls echitamine hydrate, or echit-ammonium 
hydroxide. Ifin drying the heat be raised to and maintained 
at 150° C., another molecule of water is given off; but the 
anhydrous echitamine thus left is a much weaker base, and 
is reconverted into the original alkaloid by dissolving it in 
hydrochloric acid, and decomposing the hydrochloride. In 
consequence of the decided loss of basic properties accompany- 
Ing the elimination of the last molecule of water, the author 
prefers to regard the monohydrated base as the normal form, 
The latter is a powerful alkaloid ; it neutralizes acids perfectly, 
and yields well-defined crystallizable salts. 
Echitenine.—This ‘base is prepared from the mother liquors 
of echitamine hydrochloride, by precipitating with mercuric 
chloride, decomposing the precipitate with sulphuretted hy- 
drogen, and then shaking with chloroform. It exists in the 
bark to the extent of only 0°01 per cent. Its composition — 
corresponds to the formula C2°H?7NO*, [It igs markedly 
bitter, ofa brownish colour, and fuses above 120° 0. With 
