194 APPENDIX* 



ARISTOLOCHIACEiE. 



Aristolochine and Aristin- 



These two substances have been obtained from the roots of 

 Aristolochia argentina by Dr, O* Hesse, who gives the following 

 account of them (Fharin, Joiirn.y Jan, 9th, 1892): 



L 



The powdered root gives a dark brown yellow colour to ether, and 

 when gaseous ammonia is added to the ethex^eal solution a red 

 flocculent precipitate is separated. The ether solution (separated 

 from this precipitate gives on evaporation a yellowish-brown residue, 

 in which clear, colourless crystals are formed after some time. The 

 dark- coloured mass separated from these crystals and again dissolved 

 in ether gives, on shaking with dilute sulphuric acid^ a small 

 quantity of a base. The greater part of it; however, remains in the 

 root that has been treated Avith ether, and can be extracted with 

 alcohol. On evaporating the alcoholic extract a brownish-yellow 

 resinous residue is obtained that is partly dissolved by caustic soda 

 solution and gives up the base to ether. 



I propose to apply the name Aristin to the substance contained in 

 the above-mentioned red ammoniacal compoimd. Wlien that com- 

 pound is dissolved in hot glacial acetic acid, the aristin crystallizes 

 out on cooling, and it can easily be obtained in a pure state by recrys- 

 tallizing from hot glacial acetic acid. Aristin forms shining gold- 

 coloured luminai and flat needles sparingly soluble in hot glacial 

 acetic acid and scarcely at all soluble in the cold. It is sparingly 

 soluble in hot alcohol, more so in ether, chloroform, or benzene. 



•At about 2G0° C. it blackens, but does not melt until the 

 temperature reaches 270° C, and then undergoes decomposition. 

 It dissolves in concentrated nitric acid on boiling for a short 

 time, and sepai'ates again unaltered on cooling ; but when the 

 boiling is long continued decomposition takes place with evolu- 

 tion of red vapour. Aristin dissolves in acetic anhydride with 

 a yellow colour, and when concentrated sulphuric acid is dropped 

 into the solution it becomes at first intensely blue and then 

 pemftmcntly greenish -blue. The alcoholic solution of aristin 

 has a perfectly Jicutral reaction, but the substance combines with 

 ammonia and with soda. These compounds have a fine red coIout-, 

 and the amnionia comiK>und can be crystallized from alcohol in 



d '■--*" iu idles. Euth cumi)Ouads arc dii:>sulvcd by water or 



