1820.] Scientific Intelligence. 313 



This would make the weight of an integrant particle of brucine 

 51-582, a much higher number than belongs to any other sahne 

 base hitherto determined ; but no great stress can be laid upon 

 the preceding determination. 



2. Muriate of Brucine. — Brucine dissolves readily in muriatic 

 -acid. The solution yields crystals with facility, the shape of 

 ■which is a four-sided prism, terminated at each end by an oblique 

 face. It is not altered by exposure to the air, and is very soluble 

 in water. When heated to the temperature at which vegetable 

 laodies begin to be altered, it is decomposed, and the muriatic 

 acid is disengaged in a white smoke. It is decomposed by 

 sulphuric acid° °Nitric acid produces the same effect upon it as 

 upon the sulphate. Its constituents are : 



Muriatic acid 5-9533 6-331 4-625 



Brucine 94-0467 100-000 73-053 



100-0000 



According to this analysis, the equivalent number for brucine 

 is 73-053, which is nearly one half greater than the number 

 obtained by the analysis of the sulphate of brucine. This prodi- 

 gious discordance between the results obtained from two different 

 salts demonstrates the inaccuracy of the analyses of Pelle tier and 



Caventou. 



3. Phosphate of Brucine.— Bmcme dissolves readily m phos- 

 phoric acid. The neutral salt does not crystallize ; but the 

 biphosphate yields large crystals with facility. These crystals 

 are rectangular tables with bevelled edges. The salt is very 

 soluble in water; when exposed to the air they effloresce slightly. 

 In strong alcohol these crystals dissolve with difficulty, and in 

 small quantity. Hence alcohol may be employed to purify the 

 phosphate of brucine by depriving it of its colouring matter, if it 

 has not been got rid of before. 



4. Nitrate of Brucine. — Neutral nitrate of brucine does not 

 crystaUize ; but, when evaporated, assumes the form of gum. 

 The binitrate of brucine crystallizes with facility in acicular four- 

 sided prisms, terminated "by dihedral summits. When these 

 crystals are heated sufficiently, they catch fire and burn, as is 

 the case with binitrate of strychnine. 



When brucine is digested in a still greater quantity of nitric 

 acid, a fine red colour is developed. The same phenomenon 

 appears with strychnine, but the shade of colour is different. 

 When either of these red liquids is heated, it becomes yellow. 

 Protomuriate of tin dropped into the yellow liquid from strych- 

 nine occasions a dirty-brown precipitate, whereas in the yellow 

 liquid from brucine, it strikes a very intense and beautiful purple. 



5. Other Satts. — Acetate of brucine is very soluble, and does 

 not seem capable of crystallizing. 



