74 



but the solution coagulates in the heat like common albumin, and 

 the coagulated E. has lost its power of decomposing amygdalin. 

 See also Synaptase. 



Eiiiulsiu of ]!Iiistanl=:MYRosiN. 



Equisetic Acidic 4 HO 3 4- HO. As yet only found in some 

 si^ecies of the genus Equisetum; it has also been named Maleic 

 acid, because it is formed during the destructive distillation of 

 malic acid (at 200°). To separate and obtain it, boil the com- 

 minuted herb with water, neutralise the decoction with carbonate 

 of soda, remove sulphuric and phosphoric acids with acetate of 

 baryta, precipitate the Equisetic acid with acetate of lead, wash 

 the deposit, decompose with sulphuret of hydrogen and evaporate 

 the filtered liquid. — It crystallises in large, klinorhombic jirisms, 

 tastes very acid, fuses by heat (according to Lassaigne at 47*5°, 

 according to Pelouze at 130°), and sublimes almost undecomposed, 

 dissolves readily in water, alcohol and ether. All its salts are 

 soluble in water, except the neutral lead-salt and those of silver 

 and copper. Its quantitative estimation is best effected through 

 the neutral lead-salt, Avhich is anhydrous when dried at 100°, and 

 contains 30-44°/^ acid. — According to Baup, Equisetic acid is 

 identical with Aconitic acid, consequently ti-ibasic, and having the 

 formula C12 H 3 O 9 -f 3 HO ; nor is it sublimable. See Aconitic 

 Acid. 



El'o'Otic Acifl, Peculiar volatile acid of ergot. To obtain it, 

 distil the extract prej^ared by cold water with sulplun-ic acid, and 

 remove any formic acid by gently wai-ming the distillate. Kvl 

 acid liquid remains, which, with lead, silver and baryum, yields 

 salts, insoluble in water, but soluble in acids. 



Erji'Otill. One of the three alkaloids (Ecbolin, Ergotin, and 

 Trimethylamin) of ergot. Precipitate the aqueous extract of the 

 drug with acetate of lead, free the filtrate from lead by sulphuret 

 of hydrogen, concenti'ate the liquid and add pulverised chloride of 

 mercury as long as a precipitate ensues; filter and precipitate the 

 filtrate with phospho-molybdic acid, digest the precipitate, while 

 still moist, with water and cai-bonate of baryta ; filter and evapo- 

 rate the liquid to dryness. The Ergotin closely resembles ecbolin, 

 but differs from it by not being precipitated by the chlorides of 

 mercury and platinum (unless under addition of ether-alcohol) and 

 by cyanide of potassium. 



The name of Ergotin has been formerly applied to another dif- 

 ferent substance of ergot, and prepared by boiling the pulverised 

 drug, jireviously freed from fat by means of ether, wäth alcohol, 

 evaporating the tincture, adding water to the residue, and collect- 

 ing the separated flocky mass. Fine reddish-brown powder; 

 smells specifically, especially when hot; tastes acrid, bitter, and 



