New Vegetable Alkalies. 291 



off in white vapour. It is decomposed by sulphuric acid, and 

 by those bases which decompose the sulphate. Nitric acid has the 

 same effect on it as on the sulphate. Its constituents on analy- 

 sis are : 



Muriatic acid . . .5-9533 633 1 



Brucine 94-0467. • . .100-000 



agreeing pretty accurately witii the calculations made of its com- 

 position. 



[Muriate of morphium gave by analysis 



Muriatic acid. . .8-'2885 . . . .90375 

 Morphium.... 9 1-7 11 5 ..1000000 



Muriate of strychnine gave 



Muriatic acid. . .7-0723 . . . .7-6102 

 Strychnine . . . ,92-9227 . .100-0000 



These also agree pretty well with the calculations.] 



Phosphate of Brucine.— Bmcme dissolves with facility in 

 phosphoric acid. The neutral phosphate does not crystallize. 

 When more acid is added the bisulphate crystallizes readily, 

 yielding large rectangular tables with bevelled edges. This salt 

 is very soluble in water, effloresces slightly in the air, and is so- 

 luble in alcohol at common temperatures. 



Nitrate of Brucine does not crystallize, but by evaporation 

 forms a gummy mass. The binitrate crystallizes readily in aci- 

 cular quadrangular prisms, terminated by dihedral summits. 

 These crystals when sufficiently heated inflame and burn, as 

 does binitrate of strychnine. They are readily distinguishable 

 from the nitrate of strychnine, which is a neutral salt. If the 

 nitric acid be added in excess a fine red coloui is produced, as 

 with strychnine, occasioned probably by a peroxygenation of the 

 alkali. When either of these liquids is heated it becomes yel- 

 low. Protomuriate of tin dropped into the yellow liquid of strych- 

 nine causes a dirty-brown precipitate, but dropped into the yel- 

 low liquid of brucine produces an intense beautiful purple. 



Acetate of Brjicine is very soluble, and appears not capable 

 of being crystallized. 



Oxalate of Brucine crystallizes very readily in long needles, 

 especially if tiie acid be in excess. 



Brucine, when administered internally, produces tetanus, and 

 acts on the nerves without attacking the brain or injuring the 

 intellectual faculties. Its intensity as a poison is to that of strych- 

 nine as one to twelve. It required four grains to kill a rabbit; 

 and a dog having taken three grains suffered severely, but reco- 

 vered. This alkali appears to be combined in the bark with gallic 

 acid : the bark contains also a fatty matter, gum, yellow colour- 

 ing matter, sugar in small quantity, aud ligneous fibre. 



Y 2 Delphine. 



