CINCHONA 



453 



* Isomers 



ridges; inner surface light cinnamon-brown, very finely 

 striate ; fracture short and granular in the outer layer, and 

 finely fibrous in the inner layer ; powder, light brown or 

 yellowish-brown ; odor slight, somewhat aromatic ; taste 

 bitter and somewhat astringent. 



Constituents. — (a) Four chip/ alkaloids and three artificial 

 products, 



(1) Quinine (C^oH^^N^O^ + 3 H^O). Solutions 

 of its salts are fluorescent. Turns plane of 

 polarization to left. Gives green color with 

 ammonia and chlorine water. Precipitated 

 from its salts as hydrate. 



(2) Quinidine ( CjoHo^NoOa). Solutions of its 

 salts fluorescent. Differs from quinine in turn- 

 ing plane of polarization to right, and in being 

 insoluble in ammonia except in excess. 



(Quinicine is an artificial amorphous alkaloid, probably not occur- 

 ring naturally, and obtained from quinine by heat and excess of a 

 mineral acid. Quinoidine is a cheap brown amorphous substance 

 obtained from the mother liquor after quinine sulphate has crystallized 

 out, and contains a mixture of quinidine cinchonine and cinchonidine.) 



. (3) Cinchonine (C19H22N2O). Is not fluores- 

 cent. Turns plane of polarization to right. 

 Does not assume a green color with ammonia 

 * Isomers -! or chlorine water. 



(4) Cinchonidine (C19H22N2O) is slightly 

 fluorescent. Turns plane of polarization to 

 [ left. 



Cinchonicine is an artificial alkaloid obtained from cinchonine by 

 heat and an excess of a mineral acid. 



Some other alkaloids of no particular importance are : 



Quinamina (Ci9H24NaOa). 

 Paricina (CieHisNaO). 

 Aricina, etc. 



* Isomers are bodies composed of the same elements, in the same 

 proportions, but possessing different chemical or physical properties. 



