BAILEY, LANGE: ACTION OF SULPHURIC ACID UPON STRYCHNINE. 207 
at r00® and the residue was moistened with a drop of sulphuric 
acid. This was warmed for fifteen minutes, then dissolved in water 
made alkaline with potassium hydrate and shaken out three times 
with chloroform. The mixed chloroform solutions were evaporated 
to dryness on a water bath, concentrating the residue to a small 
point on the porcelain surface, and the test was applied as in the 
preceding cases. 
The results of these tests were as follows: 
DOLICAGY, OF THE: CHEMICAL. TESTS. 
Fractions of x=limit, t=test). 
~™ US iin) ~H Nel pon! ww iar) > 2 
Ben aS She fe es 
oo aes ig — 
Series I. Tests with the plain solution: 
Mahe Winer 6 1 ! 6 t t t t t t t WHY a) t t t x 
Series II. Tests with strychnine and sulphuric acid. 
RST A AE De Ue Or tO RAD EMO ke Ot eat GeO beatae 
Series III. Tests with strychnine, sulphuric acid and organic matter. 
eG et 
" 
These experiments show that, though great care was exercised 
in the treatment of the residue, the action of the sulphuric acid 
decreases the delicacy of the reaction, so that although 25-100,000 
of a milligram was detected in the original solution, after heating 
with sulphuric acid only 11-10,000 of a milligram was detected. 
After the treatment with sulphuric acid and the shaking out with 
chloroform, it was not possible to find the strychnine except in a 
solution that contained 2-100 of amilligram. It is evident that the 
treatment with sulphuric acid does diminish the delicacy, but that is 
not so large a diminution probably as the process of shaking out 
with chloroform. Although chloroform is an excellent solvent for 
strychnine, one part being soluble in eight parts of this menstruum, 
still so much of the strychnine is still retained in the organic matter 
that the portion that can be obtained from the chloroform solution 
is only a fraction of that which was originally present. It is prob- 
able that by more perfect extraction with chloroform, a greater 
quantity of strychnine can be obtained, but the experiments de- 
scribed above are made especially to show what will be the result, 
if the ordinary methods of extraction are followed. 
