APPENDIX. J95 



i 



alcohol with deep orange-red coloration. On addition of acids to 

 these solutions a flocculent yellow precipitate is thrown down which 

 soon becomes crystalline. 



The second of the above-mentioned compounds is a fat acid ester 

 that can be easily purified by recrystallization from alcohol. It 

 takes the form of small white laminae which melt at 84° C.^ and arc 

 very soluble in hot alcohol, but sparingly in cold alcohol, very soluble 

 in ether, pertroleum spirit or chloroform, and insoluble in water. 



■ 



The substance dissolves in hot glacial acetic acid, and on cooling 

 crystallizes out again unaltered. In the alcoholic solution this 

 substance can be easily saponified, the products being phytostcrin 

 and palmitic acid. 



The third substance mentioned above Is a base, to which I propose 

 giving the name Aristolochine, That name has already been applied 

 by Chevallier to a bitter substance obtained from Aristolochia 

 serpen taria, but it was obviously a mixture the bitter taste of which 

 was probably due to the presence of the base now described. There- 

 f ore, the name seems to me to have been inappropriate in that instance, 

 and I have transferred it to the pure substance. 



Aristolochine is precipitated from its colourless solutions in 

 sulphuric or acetic acid on the addition of ammonia or caustic soda 

 in the form of white amorphous flocks. It is freely soluble in 

 alcohol, ether, chloroform, or benzene. On evaporating the ether 

 solution it remains as a colourless resinous mass. When the etlier 

 solution is mixed with an equal volume of petroleum spirit and the 

 mixture very slowly evaporated, warty masses are deposited that are 

 distinctly crystalline. The base has a bitter taste and neutralizes 

 acid perfectly. The hydiodide and sulphocyanide are amorphous 

 oily precipitates which present no tendency to crystallize. Tlie 

 platinochloride is a dark yellow and the aurochloride a pale yellow 

 amorphous precipitate ; both are almost insoluble in water. 



The beha\iour of the base with concentrated sulpluuic acid is 

 remarkable. It forms a fine green solution, which becomes bright 

 KlrnQTi.n-v^*^!! r.T^ flin n^rlifinii of a trace of fcrric chloride. Similar 



i-eactions are given by aricine, cusconine, and some of the bases 

 of the bark of Eemijia puriUeana. 



Aristolocliine appears to have been ah-eady observed by Dymock 

 and Warden in their examination of Aristolochia indica, and I am of 

 opinion that the differences of their statements in regard to the base 



