432 CONINE. 



the same time, it is necessary that the product be still 

 subjected to various other purifying processes (prepa- 

 ration of salts, recrystallization and subsequent decom- 

 position, etc.). Frequently the extract is mixed with 

 neutral or basic lead acetate for the purpose of pre- 

 cipitating foreign substances ; the filtrate is then freed 

 of dissolved lead by sulphuretted hydrogen ; and the 

 alkaloid now precipitated by means of a stronger base. 

 All alkaloids are precipitated from their solutions 

 by tannic acid, by phosphormolybdenic acid,* by potas- 

 sio-mercuric iodide, potassio-cadmic iodide and potas- 

 sio-bismuthic iodide, and can be set free from these 

 precipitates by means of alkalies or barium hydroxide, 

 and extracted by solvents (ether, benzene, amyl alco- 

 hol, chloroform, etc.). 



1. Conine. 



Occurrence. In all parts of the hemlock (Conium 

 maculatum), most abundantly in the ripe seeds. 



Formation. "When butyric aldehyde is treated with 

 alcoholic ammonia a base, butymldin, C 8 H 17 NO, not 

 known in a pure state, is produced together with other 

 substances. When this is subjected to dry distillation, 

 it yields conine. 



Preparation. The plant or the crushed seeds are dis- 

 tilled with dilute caustic potassa, in which process conine 

 passes over dissolved in water. The distillate is satu- 

 rated accurately with sulphuric acid, evaporated to a 

 syrupy consistence, and distilled with concentrated 

 caustic potassa, the conine now passing over as an oil, 

 floating on a saturated solution in water. It is freed 

 of ammonia in a vacuum. 



Properties. Colorless, clear, oily liquid, specific grav- 

 ity, 0.89 ; of a suffocating, unpleasant odor (somewhat 

 resembling hemlock) ; and a very repulsive penetrating 



* Prepared by precipitating ammonium molybdenate with sodium 

 phosphate, dissolving the well-washed precipitate in hot sodium carbo- 

 nate, evaporating, and then igniting the mass. The salt which remains 

 behind is heated with ten parts of water; nitric acid added until the 

 solution shows a strong acid reaction ; and then filtered. 



