So2 



ASJALYSIS Oi DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. 



Its contents. 



The acid the 

 acetic. 



Its poisonous 

 qualities not 

 owing to the 

 salts or acid. 



Destructive dis- 

 tillation of the 

 extract. 



washed, aud which is beginning to putrefy. AmmoniaCal 

 Tapours too arise, which may be rendered sensible by 

 vreak nitric acid held at a little distance from tlie mixture. 



8. The addition of a few drops of sulphate of iron ren- 

 ders the solution of a much deeper colour. 



9. The extract itself, exposed on burning coals, swells 

 Tip, and emits pungent and acrid fumes, in which the smell 

 cannot distinguish ammonia. 



From the effects produced on the solution of extract of 

 belladonna by the various tests employed above we may 

 conclude, that it contains, 1, a free acid ; 2, an alkaline 

 muriate; 3, a small quantity of an ammoniacal salt. 



The acid that exists in it must be the acetic, since sul- 

 phuric acid elicits the smell of this acid, and acetate of lead 

 occasions no precipitate; which it would, if the acid were 

 the malic, tartarous, or oxalic. Part of this acid must be 

 combined with potash ; and it is this, no doabt, that com- 

 municates to the extractive mass the property of attracting 

 the moibture of the air. 



But neither these salts, nor these acids [(his acid], im.. 

 part to the matter its poisonous qualities. These unquestion- 

 ably reside in the vegetable substance itself. What then is 

 the order of composition, that makes thus, with the same 

 principles, both our food and such deadly poisons ? This is 

 one of the barriers, that chemistry has not yet been able to 

 overstep ; and unfortunately beyond this barrier lie secrets 

 of the utmost importance to mankind. Wanting therefore 

 the means, which at some future period may give us a pre- 

 cise knowledge of the differences, that exist between vege- 

 table compounds possessing such opposite properties, we 

 xnv.st have recourse to observation of their effects. 



One of the methods, that appeared to us best adapted 

 to elucidate the nature of that substance in belladonna which 

 is soluble in alcohol, was its decomposition by fire. Ac- 

 cordingly I introduced 2'7 gr. [41*7 grs,] into a glass re- 

 tort, and heated it gradually, tili the water of solution had 

 been distilled over by a very strong heat. A yellow ammo- 

 niacal liquid passed over, and afterward a thick oil, which 

 had a very singular disagreeable smell. 



On 



