90 APPENDIX. 



r 



characteristic of aconitine. In respect of its action on polarised light, 

 aconine exhibits the same peculiarity as aconitine. Its salts are 

 Isevo- rotatory, whilst a solution of the alkaloid is dextro-rotatory, 

 [«]d + 2S°. When heated with alkalis, aconine slowly resinifies. 



The action of various re -agents on aconine has so far not led to 

 any important results. Nitrous acid fails to attack it. The principal 

 product of its oxidation by alkaline permanganate is oxalic acid^ 

 Attempts to isolate an additive compound with methyl iodide have 

 been unsuccessful. 



By the action of methyl iodide on aconitiue a crystalline aconiline 

 methiodlde (CH*'NC-CH^I) was obtained, which melts at 219° 



(corr.). The aconitine me thhydr oxide prepared from the compound 

 (CH*'XO^=^-CH'OH) is amorphous, and the salts which it yields do 

 not appear to crystallise. A further study will be made of this com- 

 pound, and its physiological action will be investigated. 



Professor Dunstan, in conjunction with Messrs. Harrison and Carr, 

 has continued his investigation of the aconite alkaloids, and the 

 results were communicated to the Chemical Society, February 2, 

 1893. It was discovered that aconite root contains an amorphous 

 alkaloid, napelliae, which is isomeric with aconitine, but has a 

 distinctly different physiological effect, and is not nearly sO poisonous^ 

 In an examination of some commercial specimens of aconitine, the 

 authors found large proportions of amorphous alkaloids present, and 

 specimens of aconitine salts were found, in nearly every case, to be 



chiefly napellinc salts containing small quantities of aconitme 

 compounds. 



The Aconites and Aeonitines. 



E. Richards and F. A. Rogers arrive at the following conclu- 

 sions : — 



The best material for the preparation of aconitine is the fresh 

 root of Aconitum Napellus, 



The alkaloid resides chiefly in the cambium layer, the fibro-vas- 

 cular bimdles, and the sieve ducts. 



Pure aconitine crystallizes in thin, flat, hexagonal prisms with 

 acute ends. 



It IS probable that two isomeric forms of aconitine exist ; for 

 these the terms a-aconitine and 3-acnnii-.inP. «rA «iio-rrp«fprl 



