536 LAURACEiE. 



ing the groups of stone-cells, and may in each case be due to tannic 

 matter. 



Chemical Composition — Greenheart bark contains an alkaloid 

 which has long been regarded as peculiar, under the name of Bihirine 

 or Bebirine. It was however shown by Walz in 1860 to be apparently 

 identical with Buxine, a substance discovered as early as 18o() in the 

 bark and leaves of the Common Box, Buxus sempervirens L. - In 1869 

 the observation of "Walz was to some extent confirmed by one of us,^ 

 who further demonstrated that Pelosine, an alkaloid occurring in the 

 stems and roots of Gissampelos Pareira L. and Chondoclendwn tomen- 

 tosum Ruiz et Pavon (p. 28), is undistinguishable from the alkaloids of 

 greenheart and box. 



The alkaloid of bibiru bark, which may be conveniently prepared 

 from the crude sulphate used in medicine under the name oi Sulphate of 

 Bihirine, is a colourless amorphous substance, the composition of which 

 is indicated by the formula C'*H"^NO^. It is soluble in 5 parts of 

 absolute alcohol, in 13 of ether, and in 1400 (1800, Walz) of boiling 

 water, the solution in each case having a decidedly alkaline reaction on 

 litmus. It dissolves readily in bisulphide of carbon, as well as in 

 dilute acids. The salts hitherto known are uncrystallizable. The solu- 

 tion of a neutral acetate affords an abundant white precipitate on the 

 addition of an alkaline phosphate, nitrate or iodide, of iodo-hydrargyrate 

 or platino-cyanide of potassium, perchloride of mercury, or of nitric or 

 iodic acid. 



Maclagan, one of the earliest investigators of greenheart, has obtained 

 in co-operation with Gamgee^ certain alkaloids from the u'ood of the 

 tree, to one of which these chemists have assigned the formula 

 C^'H^NO'* and the name Nectandria. Two other alkaloids, the charac- 

 ters of which have not yet been fully investigated, are stated to have 

 been obtained from the same source. 



Bibiric Acid, which Maclagan obtained from the seeds, is described 

 as a colourless, crystalline, deliquescent substance, fusing at 150° C and 

 volatile at 200° C., then forming needle-shaped groups. 



Commerce — The supplies of greenheart bark are extremely un- 

 certain, and the drug is scarcely to be found in the market. It has 

 been imported in barrels containing 80 to 84 lb. each, or in bags holding 

 I to I cwt. 



Uses — The bark has been recommended as a bitter tonic and 

 febrifuge, but is hardly ever employed except in the form of what is 

 called Sulphate of Bihirine, which, as we have said, is crude Sulphate 

 of Buxine? It is a dark amorphous substance which, having while in 

 a syrupy state been spread out on glazed plates, is obtained in thin 

 translucent laminsje. We find it to yield scarcely one-third of its weight 

 of the pure alkaloid. 



^Fluckiger, Neues Jahrbuch filr Phar- *Mr. W. H. Campbell, of Georgetown, 



made, xxxi. (1869) 257; Pharm. Jottrn. Demerara, has assured me that neither the 



xi. (1870) 192. bark nor its alkaloid is held in esteem iu 



^ Pharm. Joum. xi. (1870) 19. the colony.— D.H. 



