APPENDIX. ' 173 



An interesting paper on the origin of Benzoin by Fritz Ludy 

 appeared in Archiv de Pharmacies 231-43, an abstract of which is 

 contained in the Pharm, Journey April 29, 1893, 



APOCYNACE^. 



Bauwolfla serpentina, Benth. 

 Note on certain reactions of an alkaloid contained in the roots. 



In the PharmacoffrojjJtia Lidwa^ Yol. 11., p. 416, one of ns described 

 the proximate composition of the root of the Rauwoljia se^'penfinaf 

 Benth., and noted the presence of one or more alkaloidal principles. 

 This communication deals chiefly with the colour reactions of tin 

 alkaloid which we have separated from the roots, and provisionally 

 termed pseudobrucine. 



The isolation of the alkaloid in a pure condition was attended with 

 difficulty. In our first experiments, the pounded root was exhausted 

 with boiling 80 per cent, alcohol, and the alcohol free extract treated 

 with cold water acidulated with sulphuric acid, by which a large 

 aiuouut of dark resinous matter was separated. The aqueous acid 

 solution was then precipitated Avith Mayer's reagent, but the preci- 

 pitate on decomposition did not yield the alkaloid in apm-e condition, 

 owing to a certain amount of resinous matter being precipitated 

 with the alkaloid by the reagent, and which was subsequently 

 dissolved by the amylic alcohol employed to separate the alkaloid 

 after its liberation from the mercury compound. Attempts were 

 made to separate dissolved resinous matter from the aqueous acid 

 solntion of the alkaloid by agitation v/ith amylic alcohol, but the 

 sulphate of the alkaloid was freely soluble in this alcohol. In ether 

 the alkaloid was only verj^ sHghtly soluble. Ultimately, the pounded 

 root was percolat^ with chloroform, the chlorofoi-m evaporated off, 

 and the extract treated with water acidulated with sulphuric acid. 

 The acid aqueous solution of the alkaloid was then agitated with 

 chloroform, which separated some colouring matter and a trace of alka- 

 loid. The chloroform was then separated and the acid solution made 

 alkaHne with sodic carbonate and reagitated with chloroform ; this 

 series of operations being repeated several times. The final chloro- 

 form extract was dried and agitated with ether, which removed traces 

 of t^olouring matter. The extract now formed a cinnamon-coloured 

 powder, extremely bitter, soluble in dilute acids, and dissolving 



