APPENDIX. 9] . 
composition of aconitine corresponds to the formula 
C**H**N?0"*, which contains twice as much nitrogen as the 
formula hitherto accepte 
The poem of alkaloid in the root is as follows :— 
Per cent. 
Aconitum Napellus, fresh ae aT ay # 
mt * dried jue a He 
Japanese aconite % ive a VOT 
The method for the preparation of aconitine, recommended by the 
authors, is as follows :— 
The powdered tubers are macerated from three to four days with 
washed fusel oil, then percolated, and the alkaloid extracted from the 
percolate with small quantities of dilute sulphuric acid. The fusel 
oil is removed from this solution by treatment with shar. and the 
dissolved ether driven off by heat. The alkaloid is precipitated from 
the acid solution by solution of sodium carbonate, collected on a 
strainer, pressed between limestones, and then spread on bibulous 
paper and allowed to dry at ordinary temperature. The dried 
alkaloid is then boiled with pure dry ether, and the filtrate set aside 
to crystallize; the crystals are redissolved in a small quantity of 
ether to remove a gum-like body. 
The toxicity of e-aconitine is stated to be only one-sixth of that of - 
B-aconitine. (Chemist and Druggist, Feb. 7, 1891, 205, and Feb. 
15, 1891, 242, 243.) 
Ehrenberg and Purfirst infer from their experiments with 
aconitine that its composition is more correctly represented by the 
formula C?H**NO™, than by that assigned to it by Wright and 
Luff (C?H**NO**), or Dunstan and Ince ((**H**NO"?), They state 
that by heating with water to 150° C., or by treatment with alcoholic 
potash, aconitine does not at once yield benzoic acid and aconine ; but 
that, in addition to benzoic acid, methylic alcohol and another acid 
are produced. The authors state that by boiling aconitine with water 
there is at first produced a salt of anew base, which crystallizes 
when the liquid cools, and this product is described by them as 
benzoate of picraconitine, This is represented as being formed by 
simple hydrolysis— 
Cnr NO" + HO =C" HY NOY +0 08,” 
