Chemical Science. 187 



for, this solution, thus far purified, was acted on by magnesia, 

 an alkali became evident in this way ; but on washing the 

 magnesia, it passed off in solution, and did not remain insoluble, 

 as would have been the case with strychnine. On evaporating 

 the washings, a solid mass, of a very alkaline nature, was ob- 

 tained : it was the new alkali. Still further to purify it, the 

 alkali was combined with oxalic acid, which formed a salt very 

 little soluble in alcohol ; it was then well washed in that fluid, 

 until the salt was colourless ; then being decomposed by lime, 

 or magnesia, the alkali was liberated, and, being afterwards 

 dissolved in boiling alcohol, was obtained in crystals by spon- 

 taneous evaporation. 



Brucine, regularly crystallized, is in the form of oblique 

 quadrangular prisms, sometimes several lines in length ; they 

 are colourless and transparent. If rapidly crystallized, as from 

 a hot saturated aqueous solution, it takes on the form of nacre- 

 ous plates, like boracic acid. It dissolves in 500 parts of boil- 

 ing water, and 850 of cold water ; but when impure, ii is much 

 more soluble. It has a bitter acrid taste. When taken in a dose 

 of a few grains, it proves poisonous, but not so much so as 

 strychnine. It does not alter in the air. It melts at a heat a 

 little above boiling water, without decomposition, and when 

 it cools again, appears like wax. When decomposed by oxide 

 of copper, it gave much carbonic acid and water, and a very 

 little nitrogen, which appeared to be accidental. 



With acids it forms neutral and acid salts, readily capable of 

 crystallizing. The sulphate of brucine takes on the form of 

 long fine needles, which, appeared to be four-sided prisms. It 

 is very soluble in water, and slightly so in alcohol ; it is very 

 bitter ; it is decomposed by potash, soda, ammonia, barytes, 

 strontia, lime, and magnesia. It is also decomposed by mor- 

 phium and strychnine, which dissolve readily in it. It is not 

 decomposable by any of the acids, except perhaps the nitric, 

 which alters the brucine itself, and, as with strychnine, produces 

 a fine red colour. If sulphuric acid be added to a neutral solu- 

 tion of sulphate of brucine, a rapid crystallization is frequently 

 occasioned, and a supersulphate formed, which may be washed 



