90 APPENDIX. 
chamgeterintle of aconitine. In respect of ita action on lacie light, 
aconine exhibits the same peculiarity as aconitine. Its salts are 
levo-rotatory, whilst a solution of the alkaloid is dextro-rotatory, 
[a]p+23°. When heated with alkalis, aconine slowly resinifies. 
The action of various re-agents on aconine has so far not led to 
any important results. Nitrous acid fails toattack it. The principal 
product of its oxidation by alkaline permanganate is oxalic aci 
Attempts to isolate an additive compound with methyl iodide have 
been unsuccessful. 
By the action of methyl iodide on aconitine a crystalline aconitine 
methiodide (C**H**NO™-CH®°I) was obtained, which melts at 219° 
rr.). The aconitine methhydroxide prepared from the compound 
(C?H"N O'*-CH'OH) isamorphous, and the salts which it yields do 
not appear to crystallise. A further study will be made of this com- 
pound, and its physiological action will be investigated. 
Professor Dunstan, in conjunction with Messrs. Harrison and Carr, 
has continued his investigation of the aconite alkaloids, and the 
results were communicated to the Chemical Society, February 2 
1893. It was discovered that aconite root contains an amorphous 
alkaloid, napelline, which is isomeric with aconitine, but has a 
distinctly different physiological effect, and is not nearly go poisonous, 
In an examination of some commercial specimens of aconitine, the 
authors found large proportions of amorphous alkaloids present, and 
specimens of aconitine salts were found, in nearly every case, to be 
chiefly napelline salts containing small quantities of aconitine 
compoun: 
The Aconites and Aconitines. 
K. Richards and F. A. Rogers arrive at the following conclu- 
sions :— 
The best material for the preparation of aconitine is the fresh 
root of dconitum Napellus, 
The alkaloid resides chiefly in the cambium layer, the fibro-vas- 
cular bundles, and the sieve ducts, 
Pure aconitine crystallizes in thin, flat, hexagonal prisms with 
acute ends, 
Itis probable that two isomeric forms of aconitine exist ; for 
these the terms a-aconitine and 8-aconitine are suggested. 
