ON SOME VEGETABLE ALKALOIDS. 37 
rays resemble, on being magnified, the fronds of some species of ferns. The plati- 
nuin alone, inthis compound, was determined,— 
3°390 grains, dried at 212°, gave 
0-592 --- platinum. 
The percentage resulting from this experiment is 17°46; and 17:37 is that cor- 
responding with the formula,— 
Cor NOL) PE Cl,: 
The salt is anhydrous when crystallized. 
The substitution of terchloride of gold for the platinum solution gives, by the 
same process, a yellowish curdy precipitate, soluble in boiling water; and this 
fluid deposits colourless brilliant prisms of splendid appearance, of the corre- 
sponding gold compound. 
The chloride is a very soluble salt, crystallizing in needles ; the sulphate is less 
soluble, an acid fluid furnishing groups of pearly needles and plates, possibly a 
bisulphate; the oxalate, prepared in a similar manner, has much the same appear- 
ance; the acetate remains as a gummy transparent mass when a proper solution 
is evaporated to dryness at 212°; the chloride gives, with mercuric chloride, a 
curdy white precipitate, crystallizable from hot water in white needles. 
Carbonates of Ethylostruchnine.—Having observed, in the course of experiments 
to be detailed presently, which were made for the purpose of obtaining the ethylo- 
strychnine in an isolated state for analysis, the tendency of the base, when free 
and in solution, to absorb carbonic acid, it occurred to me to attempt the pro- 
duction of any carbonates of determinate composition it might be capable of form- 
ing. I shall be able to shew that the base enters readily into combination with 
this acid, forming at least two salts, of which while the one, the monocarbonate, 
cannot be obtained in the dry state, the other, a bicarbonate,—into which, with the 
occurrence of some other product of decomposition, the first appears to have a 
great tendency to pass,—may be readily procured in the solid form, of determinate 
composition, and even as a very beautiful crystalline substance. 
It was found that when moist carbonate of silver is added to iodide of ethylo- 
strychnine, covered with a little water. double decomposition ensues, and is com- 
plete in a few minutes, when the vessel containing the mixture is well shaken ; 
iodide of silver, of course, remaining undissolved, while the fluid contains a carbo- 
nate of extreme solubility. When, without employing heat, the process is quickly 
performed, so as to occupy only a few minutes of time, a perfectly colourless liquid 
is obtained ; but with a longer contact of the excess of carbonate of silver, or the ap- 
plication of heat, the fluid assumes a light claret colour, which, by the continued 
action of either of the above causes, may be deepened almost indefinitely, and 
seems to be the result of oxidation. This solution shews all the characters of a 
