100 Mr. J. D. Penins on the Occurrence of Berberine 



attempted by repeated ciystallizations. It was found, however, 

 that a small quantity of resinous matter adhered obstinately to 

 the ciystals, causing them to remain of a bro-maish-yellow colour. 

 This bro^Tiish tint was ultimately entii-ely removed by solution 

 in spirits of wine and digestion with a little purified animal char- 

 coal, the pure berberine crystallizing from the solution in beau- 

 tiful bright yellow needles. The crystals were found to contain 

 nitrogen, and their beha\iour vriih various reagents corresponded 

 exactly with those of berberine. 



As these ciystals were very soluble in boiling water, a quantity 

 of them was dissolved in that menstruum ; and on the addition 

 of the requisite amount of hydi-ochloric acid, a crystalline preci- 

 pitate was immediately obtained in the form of long, slender, 

 golden-coloured needles, of a fine silky lustre. 



This salt was dried in a water-bath at 212° F., and subjected 

 to analysis with the foUowdug results : — 



6-25 grs., ignited with chromate of lead, gave 1J;'398 grs. of 

 carbonic acid and 3'2 grs. of water. 



The nitrogen was determined by Wills's method. 8' 18 grs. of 

 salt gave 4'94 grs. of the double chloride of platinum and am- 

 monium. 



The chlorine was determined as chloride of silver. 3"59 grs. 

 gave 13'5 grs. of chloride of silver. 



Hydrochlorate of Berberine. 



Calculated numbers. Found numbers. 



42 equivs. Carbon . . 3150 62- 75 62-79 



20 equivs. Hydrogen . 250 4-98 5 67 



1 equiv. Nitrogen . 177 3-53 378 



1 equiv. Chlorine . . 442 8-85 902 



10 equivs. Oxygen . . 1000 19*90 



5019 100-00 

 These results correspond pretty closely with the formula of 

 hydrochlorate of berberine, which, when dried at 212° F., con- 

 tains 1 equiv. of water, and is consequently C'*'^ H^^ NO^, HCl 

 -t-HO. 



The hydrogen in this determination is considerably too high, 

 which however is easily accounted for, as the hydrochlorate of 

 berberine, after being dried in the water-bath, is eminently hy- 

 gi-oscopic, and consequently absorbs moisture rapidly while being 

 mixed with tbe chromate of lead. This observation has already 

 been made by Fleitmann, who, while analysing this salt, obtained 

 an equally great excess of hydrogen. 



A quantity of the double platinum salt was also prepared by 

 mixing a solution of the hydrochlorate of berberine with one of 

 chloride of platinum. The compound obtained corresponded 



