■312 Scientific Intelligence. [April, 



Brucine is soluble in 500 times its weio;ht of boilino" water, and 

 in 850 times its weight of cold water. The coloiuing matter 

 "with which it is united in the bark increases its solubihty very 

 much. Hence the difficulty of purifying it by crystallization. 



Its taste is exceedingly bitter and acrid, and continues long- 

 in the mouth. ^Vhen administered in doses of a few grains, it 

 is poisonous, and acts upon animals in the same way as strych- 

 nine, but with a great deal less energv. 



It is not altered by exposure to the air : it may be melted by 

 lieat without undergoing decomposition, and then assumes the 

 appearance of wax. It melts at a temperature a little higher 

 than the boiling point of water. The crystals deposited from 

 alcohol sometimes melt at a much lower temperature ; but this 

 anomaly is owing to a portion of alcohol retained between the 

 plates of the crystals. 



Brucine, when exposed to a strong heat, is decomposed. The 

 products are much empyreumatic oil, a little water and acetic 

 acid, carburetted hydrogen, and a little carbonic acid. No trace 

 of ammonia can be detected among the products. When heated 

 ivith peroxide of copper, it yields only carbonic acid and water, 

 with scarcely a trace of azote. Hence it can contain only car- 

 bon, hydrogen, and perhaps oxygen. Bat Pelletier and Caventou 

 Lave not yet succeeded in detenuining the proportion of its 

 constituents. 



It combines with the acids, and forms both neutral and bisalts. 

 Both of these sets of salts, but especially the latter, crystallize 

 -with facility. 



1. Sulphate of Bruciue. — Brucine dissolves readily in sulphu- 

 ric acid, and is capable of forming with it a neutral salt. This 

 salt crystallizes in long slender needles, which appear to be four- 

 .sided prisms terminated by pyramids so fine that their shape 

 could not be determined even by employing powerfid magnify- 

 ing glasses. It is very soluble in water, and somewhat soluble 

 in alcohol. Its taste is very bitter. It is decomposed by potash, 

 soda, ammonia, barytes, strontian, lime, and magnesia. It is 

 decomposed likewise by morphia and strychnine, which dissolve 

 readily by uniting to its acid. 



No acid is capable of decomposing this salt, except strong 

 nitric acid, v.hich acts i?pon the brucine, and decomposes it, 

 forming a fine red colour. It produces the same alteration of 

 colour upon strychnine and morphia. 



The bisulphate of brucine is less soluble in water, and crystal- 

 lizes more readily, than the neutral sulphate. The neutral sul- 

 phate of brucine, according to the analysis of Pelletier and 

 Caventou, is composed of 



Sulphuric acid 8-84 9-697 5-000 



JBrucine 91-16 100-000 51-582 



100-00 



