Frankforter : the alkaloids of veratrum. 1041 



crystallization which was removed by heating in an air bath at 

 60° for two hours. More satisfactory results however were 

 obtained by drying over sulphuric acid in vacuo. 

 .3958 grms. dried to constant weight lost 0.0320. 

 Calculated for Found 



C 32 H 4 oNO y -CH 3 OH + 2H 2 0. 

 3H 2 0=8.2 8.09 



.2022 grms. of the dried substance gave ..4828 C0 3 and 

 .1557 H 2 0. 



Calculated for Found 



C^H^NCVCH,. 

 C=65.45 65.13 



H=8.43 8.01 



The apparent change which took place in the substance on 

 drying is evidently deep seated. The white granular substance 

 on drying, became a fine light gray amorphous powder which 

 is only slightly soluble in water. These changes, together 

 with the comparative ease with which the substance decom- 

 poses would indicate that a part of the water exists as water 

 of constitution. This supposition is admirably borne out by 

 the analyses. 



Veratrine methylhydroxykydrochloride, C32 H% NO9' CHj OH 

 H CI. Veratrine methylhydroxide is very soluble in acids and 

 readily decomposed by strong acids. Sulphuric acid decom- 

 poses it changing first to a bright red color, and finally, with 

 decomposition to a black, tar-like mass. Hydrochloric acid 

 gives a red color if the acid is strong. Very dilute acid dis- 

 solves it, leaving a perfectly clear solution. If this clear solu- 

 tion is allowed to evaporate spontaneously, a light gray gran- 

 ular powder is formed. It is soluble in water, and can be 

 obtained by spontaneous evaporation. It is soluble in methyl 

 and ethyl alcohols. It forms a light, amber-colored varnish on 

 evaporating off the alcohol. It is very unstable, decomposing 

 below 100 . It seemed to change upon standing over sulphuric 

 acid for some time. 

 .2065 grams of substance dried over sulphuric acid gave .4144 



C0 2 and .1311 H 2 O 

 Calculated for 



C32 H 49 N0 9 - CH 3 OH H CI Found 



C=60.00 58.67 



H=8.24 6.6 



It is evident that the water of constitution is held more firm- 

 ly here than in the free base. • 



