132 APPENDIX. 
The crude alkaloid was very faintly yellow, and in no case showed 
any tendency to crystallization, although attempts were made to 
induce crystallization by extracting at various temperatures, and 
without applying heat, and by employing different acids and solvents. 
The allakoid obtained is, nevertheless, quite similar to cocaine from 
other sources in its physiological action, except that it seems to be 
more active. It dissolves readily in hydrochloric acid, and yields a 
soluble and insoluble platinochloride, the former containing 18°75, 
the latter 18°88 per cent. of platinum; discrepancies from the 
theoretical are assumed to be duetoa variable quantity of cocamine 
(Hesse, Am. Journ. Pharm., 1887, p. 455) in the alkaloid from Indian 
leaves. Both platinum salts yielded bases producing marked anzs- 
thetic effects on the tongue ; Howard has observed that the insoluble 
platinochloride obtained from other leaves was devoid of this pro- 
perty (Pharm, Journ, and Trans., July 23, 1887). In one instance, 
stellate erystals of the base from the soluble platinum salt were 
obtained. Applying Williams’ method, the crude alkaloid showed 
2°89 per cent. of impurity, but the precipitates were not crystalline. 
It is. noted that after the addition of ether to the acidified alcoholic 
solution, larger deposits of the sulphur-yellow cocatannic acid were 
obtained from those samples containing the highest percentages of 
alkaloids; it is hence suggested that possibly cocaine exists in the 
leaves as cocataunate, 
Methods of cultivating the pane are ees ase the leaves are first 
gathered 15 years after t vhenever they are 
sufficiently mature; and, although “the method of curing does not 
appear to affect Sis quality or quantity of the atbalaid obtained, 
nevertheless it is best, taking into consideration Paul’s experience, to 
dry them, soon after gathering, at as low a temperature as possible, 
and when dry and cold to pack them closely in air-tight chests, as 
they are very hygroscopic. The quantity of alkaloid produced 
increases with the age of the plants (which attain a height of from 
2 to 6 feet) up to 10 years, and after 20 years a slight falling off is 
observed, although they are in their prime even when 85 or 40 years 
old. 
From the above results, obtained from plants and leaves of various 
ages, it would seem that, in India, neither altitude nor rainfall have 
much influence on the proportion of alkaloid in the leaves. The ash, 
in all cases except one, was white, the exception being an ash of a 
