STKVC1IX1XE, QtTINIXE, ETC.] 



CHEMISTRY. 



417 



1 



During the trial of Palmer, we were requested to un- 

 dertake a series of experiments, in order to discover 

 whether strychnine suffered decomposition simultaneously 

 with that of an animal body. For the purpose of ascer- 

 taining this, we tried the following : 



Six young frogs were poisoned l>y means of a grain of 

 strychnine dissolved in the manner already indicated. 

 :i quite dead, the bodies were carefully washed, to 

 remove all traces of strychnine not absorbed into the 

 animal textures. They were then cut to pieces, and ex- 

 1 for a fortnight (in summer-time), till the mass was 

 completely putrid. Copious washing with distilled water 

 was then employed, and the mass boiled for some hours 

 in alcohol. The liquid was filtered, and evaporated to 

 dryness, sulphuric acid being then added to form the 

 sulphate. The product was then dissolved, and adminis- 

 tered to two frogs, who speedily passed into convulsions 

 and died. Now these experiments were conducted with 

 the full expectation and hope that the decomposition 

 of the strychnine would have resulted, but it was shown 

 that such did not take place. Every possible care was 

 taken to insure accuracy of result, and therefore the ex- 

 periments may be depended upon. 



There seems to be no remedy for strychnine as a 

 poison. We may, however, mention, that on attempting 

 to put some of the numerous frogs we experimented on, 

 during the time named, out of their misery, we gave 

 them a very large dose of cyanide of potassium, iu so- 

 lution. ThU, instead of killing them, prolonged their 

 lives. Other substances were also tried, which we cannot 

 now name from memory, but as deadly poisons in gene- 

 ral. This would seem to indicate, that some substances 

 having, in the normal state of the animal, a fatal effect, 

 are positively antidotal when it suffers from poisoning by 

 strychnine. On this point, however, we can offer no 

 deeided opinion, as <>ur experiments were. only carried 

 on in reference to the hopes of some, that their result 

 might induce a reprieve of the criminal under sentence 

 of death. The results we have named, however, deserve 

 further and careful investigation. During the above 

 course of experiments, wo may further mention, that 

 exceedingly small doses of strychnine seamed to produce 

 a ton This was noticed through oc-<M-<ionally 



tasting the ends of ihu fillers, to ascertain thar :ill acci- 

 dentally adhering strychnine had been washed awav, 

 and so to prevent its introduction into any owning of the 

 skin a ciicuinstance which sometimes occurs in investi- 

 gations of bod i as containing poisons, Ac. The formula 

 for strychnine has len stated as C 42 H 2!1 N s O 4 . And 

 of llriu-ine, C 4n H.j, X., O 8 . 



QUININE and CINCHONI.NE. These are obtained from 

 the well-knonn Peruvian bark, which, from their presence, 

 has been used so much in medicine, as tonic. Quinine, 

 however, as a disulphate, has been generally substituted. 

 Both these substances assume a crystallised form, and 

 neither are readily soluble in water ; but in this respect 

 quinine has the advantage of cinchonine. They are both 

 very bitter. The sulphate of quinine is generally sold 

 in minute crystals, and, for medicinal purposes, is dis- 

 solved iu dilute sulphuric acid An acid called Kinic 

 acid may be obtained from the Peruvian bark, which 

 unites with bases, and also affords, with other substances, 

 a curious range of compounds. 



MOUIMIINK This alkaloid is obtained from opium, by 

 a somewhat tedious process. It is soluble in boiling 

 alcohol, and but sparingly so in water. With sulphuric, 

 nitric, hydrochloric, and phosphoric acids, it forms salts. 

 The sulphate and acetate are used as medicines. 



NAKI'MTIXE and CODEINE are also obtainable from 

 opium ; and, in some respects, they resemble morphine, 

 ve effects of opium are due to the presence of 

 the alkaloids. And morphine salts are now chiefly em- 

 ployed in place of the vegetable substance, which always 

 contains a host of impurities. A peculiar acid, the mo- 

 c'riii'-, which forms salts with bases, is also found in the 

 opium of commerce. 



INK, is found in tobacco, and is a deadly poison. 

 Like CIINIXE, which is produced from hemlock, it forms 

 alU with acids, which may be obtained iu a crystallised 



Vol.. L 



state. Similar remarks apply to HYOSCYAMINE, from 

 the hyoscycamus; ATROVINK, from the atropa, belladonna; 

 and ACONITINE, which is the active principle of the 

 aconitam napelhu. There are many other vegetable 

 substances which afford similar principles, all of which 

 possess a bitter taste, and are generally poisonous when 

 taken internally. 



THEIKE. This principle, which is identical with that 

 called CAFFEINE the names varying according to the 

 source of the substances is found respectively in the tea 

 and coffee so much used as beverages ; and it is to the 

 presence of these alkaloids that is owing the refreshing 

 and exhilarating effect of those drinks. THEOBROMLSE 

 is similarly contained in the cacao-nut. Caffeine, or 

 Theine, is soluble in cold water, but much more so in 

 the heated liquid ; hence the use of boiling-water ill 

 making the infusion of either tea or coffee. Salts of this 

 substance have been obtained, and also a double one 

 with the chloride of platina. 



It will be noticed, generally, that each of the alkaloids 

 is but slightly soluble in water, however they may be 

 dissolved in boiling alcohol. They form salts with many 

 of the acids, and are distinguished from other organic 

 substances, having a vegetable origin, by containing nitro- 

 gen. They are mostly deadly poisons, and exist in mi- 

 nute quantities in the vegetable from which they arc 

 obtained. 



The general method of obtaining them is to steep the 

 plant or bark in hot water, or to make a strong decoc- 

 tion. Sulphuric or acetic acid is added, to form a salt; 

 and, in some ca.ses, these are decomposed by hydrate of 

 lime. The alkaloid is thus set free, and may be dissolved 

 out by boiling alcohol, from which it is afterwards ob- 

 tained by evaporation and crystallisation. Generally 

 speaking, the chemical constitution of their substances 

 has not been satisfactorily obtained; and we shall not 

 attempt to guide our readers by giving hypothetical for- 

 mulae, in which entire dependence cannot be placed, 

 more especially when no particular necessity exists, or 

 advantage can arise from such a course. 



VEGETABLE ACIDS. 



HAVING described the chemical character of the leading 

 alkaloids, we shall now add some remarks ou those acids 

 which are obtained from some plants, omitting such as 

 the oxalic, <!zc., to which allusion has already been made 

 at page 412, in connection with sugar, \c. 



Generally speaking, the vegetable acids are freely 

 soluble in both hot and cold water ; gallic acid, how- 

 ever, forms an exception in the latter case. They have 

 all a sour taste ; generally affect blue litmus paper ; form 

 soluble salts with alkalies and metallic oxides ; and are 

 decomposed into other acids by the aid of heat. 



TARTARIO ACID may be obtained from the ordinary 

 cream of tartar. An impure tart rate of potass is found 

 in wines,* which is the chief source of the acid. From 

 this salt an insoluble tartratu of lime is produced, which 

 is subsequently decomposed by sulphuric acid. From 

 this the tartaric acid may be crystallised. The chief 

 salts of this acid are those of potass and soda. It, how- 

 ever, forms salts with the earths. With antimony and 

 ;>otass it forms the tartar-emetic used in medicine. By 



iig heated, tartaric acid becomes changed into a 

 variety of other substances having an acid character; 

 and au anhydrous acid may be obtained, freed from 

 ;wo equivalents of water, which the commercial product 

 always possesses. Racemic acid has a definite relation to 

 tartaric acid, and is obtained also from some kinds of 

 wine. It is frequently termed Paratartaric acid. The 

 'ormula for anhydrous tartaric acid is C 8 H 4 O 10 : and 

 that of the commercial substance is the same, with the 

 addition of two equivalents of water, or C 8 H t O 10 -f- 

 2HO. 



MALIC ACID C 8 H 4 O 8 + 2HO is found in apples 

 and other fruit, and is also united with oxalic acid in the 

 common rhubarb stalks. It is also present in the berries 

 jf the mountain-ash. This acid unites with bases form- 

 ing salts called malates, of which the malato of lead is 

 See ante, p. 413. 



3 ii 



