AND CHEMISTRY OF HOPS. 17 



been compared to that of opium, and a narcotic power is 

 generally attributed to hops, but I do not find sufficient rea- 

 sons for this assertion. 



In 1863 Lermer suggested the presence of a peculiar 

 alkaloid in hops. Griessmayer's recent experiments seem 

 to prove the existence of a peculiar volatile alkaloid, which 

 he named lupfllma. The concentrated aqueous decoction of 

 ten pounds of hops was distilled with potassa or with mag- 

 nesia, the distillate neutralized with muriatic acid, eva- 

 porated to dryness, treated with cold absolute alcohol, to 

 remove sal-ammoniac, the alcoholic liquid heated to boiling, 

 and evolved, when much muriate of trimethylamina crys- 

 tallized. .The filtrate evaporated in a water-bath, and finally 

 spontaneously, the residue redissolved in water, in a narrow 

 cylinder, agitated with potassa and ether, and the ethereal 

 solution evaporated spontaneously. The remaining alkaline 

 liquid had a peculiar odour, reminding of conia, and a cooling 

 but not bitter taste. It soon separated in small crystals, and 

 finally solidified completely. Other experiments proved that 

 some kinds of hops contain no trimethylamina, and finally, 

 also, that the substances present in hops go into beer. 



