Verairine Alkali. 393 



Colchicum autumnale, or meadow-saffron. It has been named 

 Veratriiie. 



The seeds of the Cevadilla were those principally operated on. 

 Ether separates from them a yellow, greasy, unctuous acid sub- 

 stance, being a mixture of elaine, stearine, and a peculiar acid, 

 [See next NoiiceJ] The seeds were then boiled in alcohol, which 

 on cooling deposited a little wax. The solution was evaporated 

 to an extract, re- dissolved in water, and again evaporated, during 

 which some colouring matter was precipitated. On pouring ace- 

 tate of lead into the solution, an abundant yellow precipitate fell, 

 leaving the liquid nearly colourless. The excess of lead was pre- 

 cipitated by sulphuretted hydrogen, and the filtered liquor con. 

 centrated by evaporation was treated with magnesia and again 

 filtered. The precipitate boiled in alcohol yieided a solution, 

 which being evaporated left a pulverulent matter extremely bit- 

 ter, and with decidedly alkaline characters. This matter was 

 yellow; but being dissolved in alcohol and precipitated by water, 

 a fine white powder was produced. 



The precipitate bv the acetate of lead was found to contain 

 gallic acid; and hence it was conchided that the new alkali ex- 

 isted in the seed as a gallate. 



Visratrine is white, pulverulent, without smell, but excites vi- 

 olent sneezing : it is very acrid, but not bitter; produces violent 

 vomitings in so small doses, that, according to some experinients, 

 a few grains may cause death : it is but little soluble in cold 

 water : boiling water dissolves about a thousandth part, and ac- 

 quires an acrid taste : it is very soluble in alcohol, and less so in 

 ether : it melts at 50' of the centigrade therm. = 122 Fahr., and 

 then appears like wax: when cooled it becomes an am her- coloured 

 translucid mass : heated more highly it swells, is decomposed, 

 and burns : decomposed by oxide of copper it gives no indication of 

 nitrogen : it acts on test papers as an alkali, and forms uncrystal- 

 lizable salts by evaporation ; these salts appear like a gum. 



The super-sulphate alone appears to form crystals. Strong 

 solutions of these salts are decomposed partially by water : vera- 

 irine is thrown down, and the solution becomes acid. The sul- 

 phate appears to be composed of 



Veratrine 93723 . . . .100-0000 



Sulphuric acid (J-227 (J-644 1 



Tn both there was an excess of acid. Supposing it an acid salt, and 



in analogy with the salts of brucine, the neutral salt will consist of 



Veratrine lUO-000 



Sulphuric acid 3*322 



The muriate contains 



Veratrine 95-8606 100-0000 



Muriatic acid 4-1394 4-3181 



Vol. 56. No. 271. Nov. 1820. 3 D Iodin« 



