105 



tannic acid, mixing the washed precipitate with alcohol, adding 

 oxyd of lead, drying, extracting with hot alcohol, precipitating the 

 Helleborein from the highly concentrated solution with ether, 

 sepai-ating the H. before it conglutinates, and drying in a 

 vacuum. By repeatedly dissolving in alcohol and precipitating 

 with ether, it is obtained completely pure. — Crystallises from the 

 concentrated alcoholic solution slowly in translucid warty masses 

 of abo\it the size of peas, composed of microscopic needles, turning 

 readUy to a chalky white at the aii* and yielding a yellowish- 

 white, very hygroscopic powder. Tastes sweetish, dissolves most 

 readily in water and aqueous liquids, less readily in alcohol; 

 insoluble in ether. The aqueous solution has a slightly acidulous 

 reaction, and dries to a yellowish resin. At 160° it becomes 

 straw-yellow and conglutinates, at 220° to 230° it turns brown 

 .and becomes paste-like, at 280° viscid and is charred. Concen- 

 trated sulphuric acid dissolves it with brown-red colour, passing 

 slowly into violet. Alkalies and alkaline earths do not aiFect it. 

 Duuted acids quickly decompose it on ]:)oiling under formation of 

 sugar and of another product appearing in violet-blue flocks. 



Hellel)Orill=:C72 H42 O12. The other of the two glucosids of the 

 root of Helborus niger and H. viridis; only occurring in. small 

 quantity. To pi-epare it, boil with alcohol, concentrate the decoctions 

 to a small volume; shake repeatedly with much hot water, and 

 ■evaporate the aqueous solutions after removing the supernatant 

 fixed oil. The H., which then separates, is collected, washed 

 with water, and recrystallised repeatedly in boiling water until it is 

 snow-white. — Dazzling white, concentrically arranged needles, 

 almost tasteless when dry, but of an extremely acrid and bui-ning 

 taste when dissolved in alcohol. It is insoluble in water, slightly 

 soluble in ether and fixed oils, but readily so in boiling alcohol 

 and in chloroform. Above 250°, it fuses and becomes carbonised. 

 Concentrated sulphuric acid imparts to it a magnificent crimson- 

 red colour, and dissolves it slowly with the same colour. This 

 reaction is much more intense and sensitive than the similar one of 

 salicin. By immediately diluting the solution with water, most of 

 the H. subsides unaltered, only a small part having undergone a 

 decomposition into sugar and a resin. The same decomposition 

 takes place on boiling with diluted acids, while aqueous alkalies 

 have no efiect. 



Heloilill==Ci4 H9 NO 3. Resinous substance, not belonging to 

 the alkaloids, from the seeds of Schoenocaulon officinale. Is obtained 

 by treating the impure veratrin, precipitated by caustic potash 

 after Couerbe's method, with water in order to remove sabadillLa 

 and sabadillin-hydrate. Extract the veratrin from the residue by 

 means of ether, dissolve the insoluble part in alcohol, and evapo- 

 rate the solution. — It is brown, solid, insoluble in water, ether, 



