330 CONSIDERATION OF CARBON COMPOUNDS. 



Strychnine has strong basic properties and is one of the most 

 powerful poisons known, one-quarter of a grain having caused 

 death within a few hours. 



Analytical reactions of strychnine. 



1. Strychnine dissolves in sulphuric acid and in nitric acid 

 without color. 



2. A fragment of potassium dichromate, drawn through a 

 solution of strychnine in concentrated sulphuric acid, produces 

 momentarily a blue, then brilliant violet color, which slowly 

 passes to cherry-red, then to rose-pink, and finally to yellow. 

 This reaction may yet be noticed with y^^nr grain of strychnine. 



3. Strychnine, when moistened with a solution of iodic acid 

 in sulphuric acid, produces a yellow color, changing to brick- 

 red and then to violet-red. 



4. Solutions of strychnine give with diluted solution of potas- 

 sium dichromate a yellow, crystalline precipitate, which, when 

 collected, washed, and heated with concentrated sulphuric acid, 

 shows the play of colors described in test 2. 



5. Neutral solutions of strychnine give yellow precipitates 

 with the chlorides of gold and platinum and with picric acid, 

 a white precipitate with mercuric chloride. 



Bracine, C 23 H 26 N 2 4 .4H 2 0. This alkaloid acts similarly to 

 strychnine, but less energetically, upon the animal system. It 

 is distinguished from strychnine by giving a bright red color 

 with concentrated nitric acid, soon changing into yellow, whilst 

 stannous chloride changes the red color to violet ; chlorine water 

 colors brucine bright red, changed to yellowish brown by am- 

 monium hydrate. 



Atropine, Atropina, C 17 H 23 N0 3 = 289 (Daturine). Occurs in 

 belladonna; it is a white, crystalline powder, having a bitter 

 and acrid taste, and an alkaline reaction ; it is nearly insoluble 

 in water, but very soluble in alcohol and chloroform. The 

 sulphate of atropine, Atropince sulphas, (C 17 H 23 1S"0 3 ) 2 .H 2 SO 4 , is a 

 white, crystalline powder, easily soluble in water. 



Analytical reactions : 



1. Atropine dissolves in concentrated sulphuric acid without 

 color. 



