As to the distribution of the alkaloid in the plant, and the com- 

 parative strength of the seeds and the leaves, very little reliable 

 information is obtainable. 



Hurtz and Hopp (Annal der Therap., 1862, p. 22) infen-ed, from 

 experiments made by them, that an extract from the seeds possessed 

 five times the physiological activity of an extract from the leaves. 

 Evidence of this kind is, however, of vei-y little value imless the pro- 

 portionate amount of extract obtained from the seeds and the leaves 

 is stated, as the yield vanes within wide limits. The alkaloidal 

 content of the seeds is given m Pharmacographia as "1 per cent, and 

 that of the leaves as -02 to '03 per cent. 



flurtz (Brwjyhts-' CircuUr, Aug., 188-i) reports having obtained 

 a yield of datnrine from the seeds of -167 per cent. 

 _ E. Schmidt (Fear-booh of Pharmacy, 1885, p. 242) obtained 

 from 5 kilos of each of four specimens of seeds, 12-5, 18-4, 2-6, and 

 10-2 grams alkaloid, ecjuivalent to a percentage yield of -2.% -37 

 •05, and -20 respectively. 



A. B. Lyons {Manual of Practical Assmjing), estimating the 

 alkaloid by titration with Mayer's solution, found the average yield 

 of alkaloid by live specimens of the seeds to be from '45 to '55 per 



cent., and that from eight specimens of the leaves to be -40 to 25 

 per cent. 



If tlicse results couJd be tiTistccl, ihej would appear to indicate 

 that the percentage oi alkaloid hi the seeds and leaves is practically 

 the same, but the process o£ estimation hy titration with Mayer's 

 solution almost invariably gives resuJts which are too high, and a 

 systematic examinatiozi of a number of samples of the seeds and 

 leaves, with a view of ascertaining their relative alkaloidal strength, 

 is still needed. 



For the purpose of our experiments , eleven specimens of stramonium 

 seeds were obtained, and a series of tinctures made from each, by the 

 B. P. process, Avith menstrua of 80, 70, 60, 50, and 40 per cent. 

 strength (by volume). It was remarked that all the tinctures became 

 opalescent when^kept^ and all threw down a more or less abundant 

 deposit. The latter varied greatly in appearance, that from the 80 

 and 70 per cent, tinctures apparently consisting of fatty matter in a 

 semi-transparent crystalline condition, while the deposit from the 



appeared to paitake more of a resinous character. 



and 



