229 



ADDENDA. 



[Aricill — C23 H26 N2 O4. Alkaloid, j)repared from the Quina 

 de Cusco by O. Hesse. — Beautiful, wMte prisms, fusing at 188°, 

 of very feebly alkaline reaction, and very slightly astringent, not 

 bitter taste, dissolves very easily in chloroform, rather easily in 

 ether (1: 20), in 235 parts alcohol of 80%. It behaves towards 

 nitric and sulphuric acids like cusconin, and is precipitable by the 

 same re-agents as cusconin and by iodide of potassium and tannic 

 acid. Acetic acid likewise precipitates the solution of A. in hy- 

 drockloric acid under the form of small, white granules, very 

 difficviltly soluble in cold, more readily in boiling water, and 

 crystallising therefrom in crystals after cooling.] 



[Capsaicin. The active principle of the fruits of Capsicum 

 annuum, prepared by Tresli. — Colourless prisms of extremely 

 pungent taste, fusible and volatile without decomposition by itself 

 and by the steam of water, the vapours strongly irritating the 

 respiratory organs. The C. dissolves little in cold water, better 

 in boiling water, easily in strong alcohol and ether; also in potash 

 ley, and reprecipitable from the latter solution by addition of a 

 solution of ammonium chloiide.] 



[Cusconin =C23 H26 N2 O4 + 2 H O. Prepared by 0. Hesse, 

 from the Quina de Cusco. — White leaflets, or short prisms of dull 

 bistre, fuses at 11 0°, of very slightly alkaline reaction in alcoholic 

 solution, dissolves in 35 parts ether, better in alcohol and aceton, very 

 easily in chloroform, little in benzol and petroleum-ether; becomes 

 green with nitric acid, and dissolves with gi-eenish-yellow colour, 

 with the same colour in concentrated sulphuric acid, changing to 

 dark-brown on warming. Its solution in hydrochloric acid is 

 precipitable by ammonia, soda, the sulphocyanide, bi-iodide, ferro- 

 and ferricyanide of potassium, the chlorides of gold and of 

 platinum, iodide of potassio-mercury, phosphotungstic acid. Its 

 salts, when neutral and dissolved in water, react acid, and taste at 

 first rancid, then slightly bitter; the neutral sulphate at last 

 -^cooling, burning similar to inferior peppermint oil.] 



[Erytliroplllacin. Alkaloid, discovered by Gallois and Hardy 

 in the baik of Erythrophlaeum guinense. — It forms a clear, amber- 

 yellow mass, of crystalline structure under the microscope, dissolves 



