58 FI’, Mahla on Hydrastine. 
rified from adhering coloring pvr: by redissolving and recrys 
tallizing it several times with ale 
Hydrastine erystallizes in sortie which belong to the right 
prismatic system. ‘They are combinations of the longitudinal 
‘with the vertical prism, in which the planes of the first men- 
tioned form are prevailing. It is perfectly white, and its crystals 
exhibit great brilliancy. Hydrastine in the pure state is taste- 
less; its salts, however, have a ee heating, acrid taste. It 
melts like a resin, when heated to 135° C.; it — ata 
aa 
alcohol st in ether. It is not affected a a dilute silatiog of 
caustic potassa, even if boiled with it for a prolonged aici: 
Concentrated nitric acid does not at first act on it, but disso. 
it afterwards with a red color 
Hydrastine dissolves in cold concentrated sulphuric acid, and 
annette io it a yellowish tint; this mixture when slightly 
armed, assumes a red color; bichromate of potassa produces 
with it a dark brown coloration, which is distinct, however, from 
the strychnia reaction, in as far as it does not show any blue or 
violet shades. 
It dissolves oe in diluted hydrochloric acid; ammonia 
and caustic potassa uce in this solution white precipitates, 
which ~ insoluble i Or an excess of the reagent; ferrocyanid 
iodid of potassium generate also white deposits ; ; iodine dissolved — 
in asolution of iodid of potassium produces a cinnamon brown 
precipitate, which, when heated with the liquid in which it is 
suspended, contracts readily to a resinous mass. 
Bichlorid of platinum precipitates the solution of riparia dl j 
hydrastine with a yellowish red, chromate of potassa with a yel- — 
low, color. This latter precipitate dissolves when heated with 
the liquid, in which it is suspended, but separates again on cool- 
ing; before mrad hee , it assumes, in the liquid, the eS | 
of a \ melted res 
In order to subject the hydrastine to an 
it was desiccated at a Hemperature of 100° C. ey it seabed io 
diminish i in wei 
The analysis itself yielded the following results : 
: Ne -0°5013 by es | es with oxyd of ve 
11-2260 Ab and. = Pia ai ga 
( water. 
