TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 665 



sticky substance was found in the flask, and on examination was found to he 

 sodium silicate. Tlie liquid portion, on evaporation, left a semi-solid substance of 

 dark colour, containing carbon and hydrogen but no silicon ; it was therefore not 

 examined further. 



It would follow, from this easy decomposibility of the compound, that the 

 silicon is combined in a very unstable manner with the two molecules of the dyad 

 radicle phenylene, CgH^. 



13. A neiv Process for the Freparation of Aconitine. 

 By John- Williams, F.G.S., F.I.G. 



During tlie past year I have made many experiments npon the best mode of 

 preparing crystallised aconitine, and have succeeded in preparing the alkaloid by a 

 process which yields it better than the one previously employed, and which, as 

 far as I can discover, has not hitherto been described. 



The new process for the preparation of aconitine is very simple in outline, but 

 some practical details must be attended to if a successful result is to be obtained. 

 The process is as follows : — 



Aconite root (the root of the Aconitum Kapellm) dried at a very moderate 

 temperature and coarsely ground is thoroughly exhausted with amyl alcohol (fusel 

 oil) ; the amylic solution so obtained is shaken with dilute acid and water, this 

 acid liquid precipitated with carbonate of soda, and the rough alkaloid produced, 

 dissolved either in ether or alcohol and allowed to crystallise, when the pure 

 alkaloid is obtained. 



To carry out this process, however, so as to obtain a satisfactory result se'\"eral 

 precautions must be taken. First, the aconite root must be carefully chosen, and 

 if possible verified botanically as that of the A. Napellus. We have reason to 

 believe that other species of aconite, although yielding alkaloids of great medicinal 

 importance, do not yield an alkaloid identical with that obtained from the A. 

 Napellus, and as the British Pharmacopoeia gives that plant as the officinal one, 

 great care should be taken to avoid the admixture of other varieties. 



The fusel oil used should l)e of good quality, and free from ordinary spirit; 

 which should be carefully got rid of by washing the oil with water several times, 

 and, if necessary, distilling in a current of steam. 



For extracting the root maceration for a few days with frequent stirring, and 

 then percolation, is the most etl'ective. This should be done in the cold. In fact, 

 heat should be avoided as far as possible throughout the whole process. 



The percolate is of a pale straw colour, and is not contaminated with the dark 

 oleoresin, which is extracted from the root by ordinary alcohol : this, I need 

 hardly remai-k, is a very great advantage. 



The extraction of the alkaloid from the fusel oil should be effected by weak 

 sulphuric acid and water (about 1 fluid drachm to, say, 4 pints of water). The 

 oil should be shaken with small but successive portions of the dilute acid, and the 

 aqueous liquid tested from time to time with such reagents as double iodide of 

 mercury and potassium, &c. 



The weak acid liquid separated from the fusel oil smells strongly of that body, 

 which is to a slight extent soluble in water. To get rid of this the liquid must be 

 shaken with ether (common methylated ether, I'rom which the spirit has been 

 washed out, answers the purpose perfectly). Generally the treatment with the 

 ether should be repeated, as I do not find it easy to separate the whole of the fusel 

 oil at the first operation unless a very large excess of ether is employed. 



The aqueous liquid so obtained smelling very strongly of ether should be 

 placed in a water-bath, very gently heated, for a few hours. When cold it will bo 

 found to be free from both odour and colour, and in a fit state for precipitation. 



The precipitation of the crude alkaloid is best effected by a solution of ordinary 

 carbonate of soda, which I prefer to ammonia. 



The precipitate of crude alkaloid, which is nearly white, should be slightly 

 washed and dried, and transferred to a flask or other vessel with great caution, as 

 the alkaloid in this state is very irritating. 



