982 VEGETOALKALIES. 



CONICINE. 



This base is also termed conia and coneine ; its formula is 

 C 12 H 14 NO. It exists in all parts of hemlock, Conium maculatum. 

 It is volatile and is obtained by the distillation of the plant or 

 its seed with a solution of caustic alkali, in the manner formerly 

 indicated. It is a colourless oily liquid, of density 0.89, boiling 

 at 302 ; its odour is strong and penetrating, recalling at once 

 that of hemlock and tobacco. The taste of conicine is acrid and 

 corrosive, and it occasions death almost as rapidly as hydro- 

 cyanic acid. It is soluble in 100 parts of water, alkaline, 

 miscible with alcohol and ether. With sulphuric, phosphoric, 

 nitric and oxalic acids it forms salts, which crystallize well. 

 Solutions of both conicine and its salts undergo decomposition 

 when air is admitted to them, and become brown with forma- 

 tion of ammonia. 



The following organic bases are well established, besides 

 those already enumerated : 



Aconitine, in several species of aconitum. 



Aricine, in a variety of cinchona bark. 



Atropwe, in all parts of Atropa belladonna. This base is 

 soluble in water, and is readily decomposed when in solution by 

 heat; it crystallizes in small white prisms. Its taste is most 

 disagreeably bitter and acrid. In a state of solution, and par- 

 ticularly when in combination with acids, it is easily decomposed 

 with the formation of ammonia. It is highly poisonous, and 

 in the most minute proportion possesses the power to dilate 

 the pupil of the eye. The formula for atropine is C 34 H 8 NO 6 . 



Chelidonine and chelerythrine in Chelidonium majus. 



Colchicine in Colchieum autumnale. 



Corydaline in the root of Corydalis bulbosa and fabacea. 



Curarine in the Curara poison of India. 



Daturine in the seeds particularly of Datura stramonium. 



Delphinine in the seeds of Delphinium staphisagria. 



Emetine in ipecacuanha, the root of Cephaelis ipec. It is a 

 white, very fusible powder of a feebly bitter taste, sparingly 

 soluble in water, readily soluble in alcohol ; it excites vomiting. 



Hyoscyamme in Hyoscyamus niger and albus. 



