HELLEBOKES. 



37 



This extraction with chloroform is repeated a number of times, thus 

 extracting most of the alkaloids of hellebore, either partially or wholly. 

 This solution, which we will call A, is put aside, and the contents of 

 the separators funnel is made alkaline with ammonia and extracted 

 with petroleum ether to obtain any alkaloids that are left, particularly 

 veratrine, making solution E. 



Portions of solution A are pla.ced in watch glasses, allowed to evap- 

 orate spontaneously, and iinally tested with concentrated sulphuric 

 acid. On employing two samples known to be pure, the following 

 results are obtained: The residue left is amorphous. On treating it 

 with a drop of sulphuric acid a yellow solution is first formed, chang- 

 ing to brown, then purplish red on the edges, and finally, after stand- 

 ing about half an hour, purplish red throughout the whole mass. 

 Portions of B are now treated in the same way, and on two pure 

 samples the following results are obtained: The residue is amorphous. 

 On being treated with concentrated sulphuric acid a yellow solution 

 first forms, which turns dark yellow, chestnut, and finally brown red, 

 with sometimes a greenish color around the edges of the drop." 



Of course, there are some substances that might give the same play 

 of colors with sulphuric acid as those described, but probably not any 

 that would likely be used to cheapen the product. 



ANALYSES AND DISCUSSION. 



The results obtained by the above methods of analysis are given in 

 the following table: 



TABLE V. Composition of hellebores. 



a According to Allen's Commercial Organic Analysis, the pure alkaloids should give the following 

 play of colors with concentrated sulphuric acid: 



Jervine: Yellow, brown yellow, bright green. 



Pseudojervine: Yellow, bright green. 



Rubijervine: Yellow, orange, dark red. 



Vemtralbine: Yellow, orange red, blood red with green fluorescence. 



Yeratrine: Exactly like cevadine except that the red solution is not fluorescent. 



Cevadine: Yellow, brown red, blood red with greenish fluorescence; if allowed to stand in air long 

 enough, becomes purple. 



