Section B. 



CHEMISTR 



Sub-section, PHARMACY. 



1.— A LABOEATORY NOTE ON A SUPPOSED ALKALOIDAL 

 METAMORPHOSIS. 



By T. I. Wallas, Sydney. 



{Contributed by F. I. Gray.) 



(Abstract.) 

 A solution containing — 



Homatropin hydrobromide . . . . J grain, 



Cocain hydrochloride . . . . 2 grains, 



Camphor water , . . . . . 1 drachm, 



within 24 hours became green in colour, and lost mydriatic power. 



It had been correctly compounded, and possibilities of error attach- 

 ing to the several ingredients were wholly eliminated. 



A fresh solution of the same stock of salts made with sterilized 

 water yielded a similar result, as did a solution of the homatropia 

 hydrobromide alone in sterilized water. 



A solution of the cocain hydrochloride remained normal. 



The physical appearance of the two salts, macroscopical and 

 microscopical, showed no abnormalities, and chemical reactions gave 

 no indications of impurities. 



A fresh supply of the same maker's homatropin hydrobromide 

 yielded a solution which remained normal. 



Obviously the original homatropin salt had become afEected by 

 some agent foreign to its chemical structure. 



The coloured solutions were extracted with various differential 

 alkaloidal solvents, and two distinctive reactions were obtained — 



(a) An ether extraction yielded a brilliant pink colour ; 

 (6) A chloroform extraction yielded an equally brilliant blue 

 colour. 



These are the colour reactions of apomorphin and its salts. 



There is no physical or chemical relationship between apomorphin 

 and homatropin, and as error and contamination were eliminated, some 

 biological change suggested itself. 



