CINCHONA 



477 



ridges ; inner surface light cinnamon-brown, very finely 

 striate ; fracture short and granular in the outer layer, and 

 finely fibrous in the inner layer; powder, light brown or 

 yellowish-brown ; odor slight, somewhat aromatic ; taste 

 bitter and somewhat astringent. 



Constitvents. — {a) Four chief alkaloids and three artificial 

 prodticts. 



(1) (3mmne(0,,H,,NA + 3H,O). Solutions 

 of its salts are fluorescent. Turns plane of 

 polarization to left. Gives green color with 

 animonia and chlorine water. Precipitated 



* Isomers \ from its salts as hydrate. 



(2) Quinidine {G^^'K^J^fi^). Solutions of its 

 salts fluorescent. Differs from quinine in turn- 

 ing plane of polarization to right, and in being 

 insoluble in ammonia except in excess. 



(Quinicine is an artificial amorphous alkaloid, probably not occur- 

 ring naturally, and obtained from quinine by heat and excess of a 

 mineral acid. Quinoidine is a cheap brown amorphous substance 

 obtained from the mother liquor after quinine sulphate has crystallized 

 out, and contains a mixture of quinidine, cinolionine and cinchonidine.) 



(3) Cinchonine (CigHj^NjO). Is not fluores- 

 cent. Turns plane of polarization to right. 

 Does not assume a green color with ammonia 



* Isomers ■{ or chlorine water. • 



(4) Cinchonidine (OigHjjNjO) is slightly 

 fluorescent. Turns plane of polarization to 

 left. 



Cinchonicine is an artificial alkaloid obtained from cinchonine by 

 heat and an excess of a mineral acid. 



Some other alkaloids of no particular importance are : 



Quinamina (CioHaiNjOa). 

 Parieina (deHisNaO). 

 Arioina, etc. ■ 



* Isomers are bodies composed of the same elements, in the same 

 proportions, but possessing different chemical or physical properties. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



