638 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



dered Cinchona (containing 7 per cent of total alkaloids, of which 

 3 per cent is quinine) is mixed with 500 c.c. of water and shaken 

 occasionally in the course of several hours with 500 c.c. of water; 

 10 c.c. of this solution are then diluted with 50 c.c. of water, a few 

 cubic centimeters of this solution, when swallowed, still give the 

 characteristic taste of the alkaloids of Cinchona. One c.c. of this 

 solution contains 0.000005 gramme of quinine, or about 0.000011 

 gramme of total alkaloids. 



The following test is rather expeditious in obtaining an approx- 

 imate idea of the quantitative value of the drug. One gm. of pow- 



FIG. 283. Quinine sulphate: Long orthorhombic needles from a dilute alcoholic 



solution. 



dered Cinchona (containing 7 per cent of total alkaloids, of which 3 

 per cent is quinine) is macerated over night with 10 c.c. of a modified 

 Prollius solution. The solution is filtered into a small separating 

 funnel and 5 c.c. of a dilute sulphuric acid (0.5 per cent) solution are 

 added. After agitation and allowing to stand until the two liquids 

 separate, the aqueous solution containing the alkaloids is separated. 

 This solution, which is slightly fluorescent, is rendered neutral with 

 dilute ammonia water, and one drop contains about 0.00015 gramme 

 of quinine. (1) One drop of this solution is mixed with nine drops 

 of water, and upon the addition of a drop of bromine water followed 

 by an excess of ammonia water the thalleioquin reaction readily takes 



