180 ArrENDix. 



crude oil was acted npon by metallic potassium to separate the 

 oxygenated product, and the pure oil removed ; this upon analysis 

 proved to be rei^resented by the formula (C^II^)"S, {Year-l^oo/c of 

 P/iannacT/y 1892^ p. 515.) 



Solanacoaus Alkaloids, 



Tlie snrpi 



by Messrs. Schering, that belladonna roots contain practically only 

 hyoscyaminoy and that atropine obtained from them is probably d 

 product of change occurring dm^ng the manufactm-e^ suggested to 

 Dr. Schiitte to undertake a thoroTJgh investigation of the subject^ 

 and he has Just published his results in a long and interesting paper 



{ArcAiv, Oct. 50, p. 4»2). In the first place the influence of methods 

 of preparation upon the conversion of hyoscyamine into atropine was 

 tested. Dr. Will had already stated that contact with an alkali i^ 

 sufficient to effect this change, and Dr. Schiitte formd that the same 

 result is produced by repeated recrystallizations from acidulated 

 water, a» well as" by long keeping of hyoscyamine in solution or in 

 the form of a gold salt. It was further ascertained that in fractional 

 precipitation the gold salt of atropine, if any should be present, is 

 thrown do^wn before that of hyoscyamine, and the inference ha^^ 



been 



be 



commencement of the preci2:)itation in a properly -conducted experi- 

 ment; it represents atropine existing as such in the plant-part, and 

 that any obtained from a mother- liq\ior after the removal of the 



hyoscyamine 

 age and pej 



alteration. The influence of 



upon 



next investigated. It was found that young fresh roots (1 to 2 

 years), collected from a basaltic district, whether gathered in the 

 spring, summer or autumn, contained only hyoscyamine, but that 

 older roots (8 years and upwards) always contained, besides much 

 hyoscyamine, a little akeady- formed atropine. Similar results 

 were obtained with roots from old cultivated plants and roots that 

 had been kept several years. Th© amount of alkaloid was consider- 

 ably greater in the roots collected in summer than in the spring 

 roots, and fell off again in the autumn, but more rapidly in the old 

 than in the young roots. The averages obtained at the three 

 periods were for young roots 01 27, 0-452, and 0'45S per cent., and 

 lor old roots 0-174, 0-35H, and 0-280 per cent. Spring and autumn 



