i82 D. Prain <fc I. H. BurkillT— a new species from Surma. [No. 4, 



the rusot, evaporating to a low bulk with an excess of hydrocliloric acid, 

 and separating and drying the crystals of berberine hydrochloride. A 

 more accurate method was tried with the last sample. This is the 

 process of A. M. Grordin (Proc. Amer. Pharm. Ass., vol. 50, (1902), 1051), 

 which consists in separating the alkaloid in the form of crystalline 

 berberine-acetone, drying and weighing the compound, and calculating 

 85'24 per cent of these crystals as pure berberine. 



The following are the results of the examination : — 







1 



2 



3 



4 





United Provinces. 



Bushahr. 



Hazara. 



Lahore. 



Water 



... 



670 



40-31 



4-00 



20-98 



Spirit extract 



... 



25-85 



27-15 



38-25 



40-16 



Water extract 



... 



36-25 



17-43 



29-32 



20-85 



Fibre 



... 



1550 



1000 



1923 



7-65 



Ash ... 



••« 



15-70 



5-11 



9-20 



10-36 





100-00 



100-00 



100-00 



100-00 



Berberine ••• 



• •• 



7-75 



2-9 



3-46 



4-22 



The results indicate a variable amount of berberine in the samples 

 of rusot manufactured in different distiscts, the amount ranging from 

 7- 75 per cent, in that from the United Provinces to 2 90 per cent, 

 in that from Bushahr. There is likewise little uniformity in the 

 amount of extracts, insoluble material and ash, and the composition is 

 found to differ very considerably in various portions of the same cake. 



The alcoholic extract is the most valuable part of the drug, as it con- 

 tains all the alkaloidal active principles ; the aqueous extract, insoluble 

 matter and ash may be regarded as impurities. Instead of the watery 

 extract at present made in the jungles, and which varies so consider- 

 ably in composition, a preparation made with alcohol would have many 

 advantages, as it would be more concentrated and uniform, and could be 

 readily standardized in regard to the alkaloidal strength measured as 

 berberine. 



