APPENDIX. 



is probably associated with another amorphous alkaloid about which 

 they have at present little information to give beyond the fact that 

 neither it nor its salts appear to crystallize. 



The alkaloid soluble in chloroform was proved to be aconine, the 

 compound which is obtained together with benzoic acid on hydro- 

 lysing aconitine. 



The roots of true Aconitum Napellns, therefore, must be held to 

 contain three alkaloids, one of which is crystalline, viz., aconitine, 

 two being amorphous, viz., napelline and aconine. Indications have 

 been obtained of the presence of a fourth alkaloid, which is amor- 

 phous and closely resembles napelline. 



that the Juice expressed from the roots contains 

 a large proportion of amorphous bases but very little aconitine, the 



find 



greater 



it may 



be extracted, together with the remainder of the amorphous alkaloids, 

 by exhausting with amyl alcohol. The total quantity of amorphous 

 alkaloid obtained amounted to more than twice that of aconitine. 



The physiological action of the alkaloids referred to is being 

 investigated. The results so far obtained point to the conclusion 

 that crystalline aconitine is by far the most toxic of the alkaloids 

 contained in Aconitum Napellns. 



formation 



into Aconitine. 



Owing to the uncertainty which exists with reference to the pro- 



W 



W. R. Dunstan and 



Wrig 



a 



pure 



Mor 



lysed, the sole products are aconine and benzoic acid. „ 



however, Dragendorf and Jiirgens have asserted that the hydro- 

 lysis occurs in two stages, their contention being that benzoic acid 

 and an alkaloid identical with the picraconitine isolated by 

 and Lufi from the roots of supposed Aco7ii(um Nap..... «.. 

 formed m the first stage, while in the second stage the picraconitine 

 IS bydrolysed into benzoic acid, methyl alcohol, and aconine, which 



Wright 



cari 



r«t 7^1 '\f "■' ."">=' ''' "»° *"■' '■-"O been unable io obtain at 



•"■y stage either p.craeonitinc or methvl aleohol. The alkaloid 



