540 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 
added to render the mixture alkaline, and the whole vigorously 
agitated for several minutes. After separation is complete 
the ether-chloroform layer is run out into a clean 50 c.c. 
glass stoppered burette. The alkaline water solution is 
agitated with 20 c.c. more of the ether-chloroform, separated 
and this extract added to that in the burette. The burette is 
now supported over a small weighed glass dish which is kept 
warm on a water bath and the liquid allowed to evaporate 
gently drop by drop until a sufficient quantity of the pure 
alkaloid has collected in the center of the dish to render an 
accurate weighing possible, or else all of the alkaloid may be 
collected and weighed at once. After all possible tests have 
been made upon the weighed alkaloid the remainder is redis- 
solved in a drop or two of acetic acid, a little water added, 
and the dish exposed under a bell glass to the fumes of 
ammonia. After standing some time all the strychnine is 
found crystallized out in the beautiful characteristic needle- 
formed crystals. The mother liquor is drawn off with a small 
fine pointed tube and rubber bulb, the crystals carefully 
washed with a little water and dried over sulphuric acid. The 
glass dish containing these crystals is kept as the final exhibit 
and is shown in evidence. Another convenient exhibit may 
be prepared by moistening a small filter paper with a solution 
of the alkaloid in dilute acetic acid, then moistening with a 
solution of potassium dichromate; this paper on being dried 
may be kept indefinitely. On moistening it and touching it 
at any time with a drop of strong sulphuric acid a violet film 
changing to cherry red is formed at the place of contact. 
The point which seemed most doubtful in using the above 
method of analysis was whether, after making the purified 
extract alkaline and shaking in the separating funnel with 
acetic ether, the solution of the alkaloid would be complete. 
Experiments were undertaken to investigate this point, and it 
appeared that if the alkaloid was precipitated in the presence 
of the solvent the solution was so complete that no trace of 
strychnine could be found in the alkaline water residue, nor 
could any bitter taste be detected. In order to test the 
general efficacy of the method a mixture was made up in the 
laboratory of starch, glucose, cane sugar and lard with 
