Royal Society. 247 



concentrated to a very moderate bulk, was distilled along with a 

 considerable excess of soda, when a colourless basic oil slowly col- 

 lected at the bottom of the receiver. This oil was the volatile base 

 sparteine. It has a strongly alkaline reaction, completely neutral- 

 izing the most powerful acids. It is but slightly soluble in acids 

 but readily dissolves both in alcohol and in aether. It boils at about 

 550° F. The taste of its salts is very bitter. The formula of this 

 base is C,, H,3 N. The nitrate, sulphate and hydrochlorate of spar- 

 teine are exceedingly soluble, and crystallize with great difficulty. 

 The nitropicrate of sparteine forms long, slender brittle needles, un- 

 distinguishable from nitropicrate of potash. Its formula is C,5 Hj, N, 

 HO, C,3 H„ N3 0,3. 



The double chloride of platinum and sparteine crystallizes in rect- 

 angular prisms. This salt contains two equivalents of water, which 

 it loses at 266° F. Its formula, when dried at 212° F., is C15 H13 N, 

 HCH-PtCl2+2HO. 



The double mercurial salt crystallizes in large, right rhombic 

 prisms, exhibiting the diamond lustre. Its formula is C15 H13 N, 

 HCl, HgCl. 



Sparteine appears to be a strong narcotic poison, though much 

 inferior in this respect to either nicotine or coneine. 



It is plain, therefore, that in employing a decoction of broom-tops 

 in dropsical aflfections, as has hitherto been the practice, the patient 

 is subjected to the narcotic influence of the sparteine, as well as to 

 the diuretic effects of the scoparine, a result which in general is not 

 likely to be desirable. The author does not, however, think it is at 

 all necessary to employ chemically pure scoparine for medical pur- 

 poses. If a decoction of broom be evaporated to dryness on the 

 water-bath, then treated with a little dilute hydrochloric acid, the 

 mixture thrown upon a filter and washed with a small quantity of 

 cold water, almost the whole of the sparteine will be removed, and 

 the dark green gelatinous mass remaining on the filter will be found 

 to possess the diuretic without the narcotic properties of the plant. 



December 19. — Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, Bart., V.P., in the Chair. 



Captain Lefroy, R.A., was admitted into the Society. 



The following communication received from Professor Hermann 

 Schlagintweit was read : — 



" Results of Observations on the Distribution of Temperature in 

 the Alps." 



1. The greatest Irregularities and the most considerable local in- 

 flexions of isothermals are observed at the lower heights. 



2. Generally speaking, the depression of temperature is also very 

 sensible at stations in the Alps when proceeding from south to north ; 

 and the eastern parts are colder than the western. One degree of 

 latitude produces in the plain of Lombardy a difference of tem- 

 perature amounting to 0°*7 C. In the interior parts of the Alps the 

 difference is 0°-5 to 0°'6 C. 



3. If we consider the isothermal lines on a longitudinal profile of 

 the Alps, we find that their forms show some connexion with the 



