APPENDIX. 157 



separate again, then allowing the contents of the beaker to cool to 

 7^ C. ; transferring to the weighed filter and washing with a little 

 90 per cent, alcohol njitil the filtrate measures 25 cc. ; the filter with 

 contents is then at once transf ei-red to the beaker, dried at 101° C. and 

 weighed. To the weight of the benzoyl- eugenol must be added 0'550 

 gm., the amount soluble in 25 cc. 90 per cent, alcohol; this weight 

 multiplied by 164 (the molecular weight of eugenol) and divided by 2 G8 

 (the molecular weight of benzoyl -eugenol) gives the amount of 

 eugenol in 5 gms. oil ; for the percentage multiply again by twenty. 



An examination of sixteen samples showed the eugenol to vary 

 from 7g*87 per cent, to 90'64 per cent. ; the oil distilled from the 

 stems was found (contrary to expectations) to contain a high percent- 

 age of eugenol, 83 — 85 per cent. ; the specific gravity of the oil was 

 not found to agree with the percentage of eugenol as the following 

 show: l-b59r= 83*2 per cent. ; 1065 :^80'89 per cent, ; l-065 = 82-77 

 per cent. ; 1-0615 = 84-10 percent.; 1-0655 = 90-64 per cent. ; l'06l = 

 81-18; this led to the belief that there must be a third constituent 

 present in the oil, for if there were only eugenol and sesqui-terpene 

 the iSpecific gravity should vary in accordance with the percentage of 

 eugenol. (P/iann, Centralhalle^ 1891, 589. Am. Journ. Pharm,, 



Jan,, 1 892.) 



PASSIFLOEEJE. 

 Carpaine, the alkaloid in the leaves of Carica Papaya. 



k new alkaloid has recently been detected in papaw leaves, by 

 M, Greshoff, of the Chemico-Pharmacological Laboratory at Buiten- 

 zorg in Java. It was obtained by digesting the powdered leaves iu 

 spirit acidulated with acetic acid,removing the spirit by distillation, and 

 treating the resulting extract with water so as to leave behind resin 

 and chlorophyll. The aqueous solution was then shaken repeatedly 

 with ether, and carbonate of soda was added until an alkaline reaction 

 was evident. The precipitate thus obtained was readily soluble in 

 ether, and on evaporation of the ether the '' carpaine " was obtained 

 in colourless rosettes of crystals to the extent of about 0*25 per cent. 

 of the leaves employed. Although the freslily pecipitated alkaloid 

 is readily soluble in ether, when once crystallized it redissolves but 

 slowly, so that the crystals can be purified and rendered perfectly 

 white by washing with a little ether, but the percentage obtained is 

 thus reduced to 0'15 per cent. On a large scale the lime and 



