SUBSTANCES REPUTED MEDICINAL. 173 
Dubotsine is a volatile alkaloid of the leaves and twigs of 
Duboisia myoporotdes, R.Br., and probably identical with the 
ptturine found by Staiger in Duboisza Hopwoodit, F.v.M.  Pre- 
pared like nicotine. It is a yellowish, oily liquid, lighter than 
water, of a strong narcotic odour, resembling that of nicotine, and 
also cantharides, of a very strong alkaline reaction ; neutralises 
acids completely ; dissolves in any quantity of water, alcohol, and 
ether ; throws down ferrous oxide from ferrous sulphate ; dissolves 
concentrated acids, forming a colourless solution. Its hydro- 
chloride in a weak, aqueous solution, is precipitable by biniodide 
of potassium, the iodides of potassio-mercury, and of potassio- 
bismuth, and by tannic acid, not by other alkaloid reagents. 
Nicotine, which dudozsine resembles, is distinguished from the 
latter by its specific gravity, its less-powerful odour, and by its 
hydrochloride in a diluted aqueous solution being precipitated by 
phosphomolybdate of soda, picric acid, and chloride of platinum. 
(Mueller and Rummel, in Wittstein’s Organic Constituents of 
Plants.) 
About seven years ago, Professor Ladenberg, during his 
investigation of the mydriatic alkaloids, arrived at the conclusion 
that duboisine, the base obtained from the Australian Dudozsta 
myoporotdes, was identical with hyoscyamine (Pharm. Fourn. [3], 
xi., 351), though as generally met with probably contaminated 
with some impurity. This opinion was subsequently challenged 
by Herr Harnack, who affirmed that duboisine exercised a much 
stronger physiological action than hyoscyamine. Professor 
Ladenberg has, therefore, been induced to re-investigate the subject, 
working upon a sample of duboisine supplied by Herr Merck. 
The base, as received, was a yellow-brown, syrupy mass, which was 
dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and precipitated with gold chloride. 
The gold salt had at first a resinous appearance, but after four 
recrystallizations, it became homogenous, melting constantly at 
197° to 198°, and showing all the properties, and having the same 
elementary composition as the gold salt of hyoscine. Neither 
hyoscyamine nor any other alkaloid could be detected in the first 
mother-liquor from the gold salt. Professor Ladenberg is of 
opinion that the explanation of this different result probably lies in 
