544, 



Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles* 



cipitate, after washing with cold water, is to be dissolved in boiling 

 alcohol ; the solution is to be filtered and allowed to cool. In this 

 operation the greater part of the chelidonia crystallizes, and by eva- 

 poration more is obtained. The crystals are to be washed with 

 alcohol to separate extractive. The mother -water and the washings 

 are to be evaporated by a gentle heat, and then the pirropina cry- 

 stallizes with a little chelidonia ; these crystals are in yellow la- 

 minae, and a portion is deposited on the sides of the vessel in 

 blackish discs. 



The properties of chelidonia are, that it crystallizes partly in 

 transparent tables and partly in cubes, and varieties. In the state 

 of crystals it dissolves with difficulty in hot alcohol and in aether ; 

 it crystallizes on their cooling. The concentrated acids, even when 

 heated, act slowly on this substance ; nitric acid gives it a yellow 

 colour, and sulphuric acid blackens it. The diluted acids form co- 

 lourless salts with it, which readily crystallize and have an astrin- 

 gent and very bitter taste. Chelidonia dissolves readily in the fat 

 and volatile oils when heated ; the solutions have a bitter taste. 



The alcoholic solution has an alkaline reaction. If tincture of galls 

 or subacetate of lead be added to a solution of acetate of chelidonia, 

 abundant white precipitates are obtained. Tincture of iodine forms 

 a kermes-coloured precipitate, chromate of potash a deep yellow, 

 chloride of gold a dirty reddish yellow, and the alkalis give white 

 precipitates. 



The properties of pirropina are, that it forms stellated crystals, 

 which are aggregated prisms ; they are colourless and transparent, and 

 on cooling they lose their transparency and become slightly brown. 

 The acids, when cold, act upon it but slightly, but when heated 

 they dissolve it, and become of a golden yellow or reddish colour ; 

 a powerful acid imparts a fine flame-red colour to the crystals. Its 

 compounds are generally but little soluble in cold water, and have 

 a slightly bitter taste, but are acrid and penetrating. Pirropina 

 dissolves with difficulty in cold aether and alcohol, but readily when 

 they are boiling. The fat and volatile oils dissolve it when hot. 

 It fuses when heated, burns and yields ammoniacal vapours. Tinc- 

 ture of iodine precipitates acetate of pirropina of a crimson colour ; 

 chloride of gold yellowish brown, chromate of potash deep brown ; 

 tartar emetic, chloride of iron, proto-nitrate of mercury, bichloride of 

 mercury, and nitrate of silver, all give yellowish white precipitates. 

 The alkalies form a white precipitate ; tincture of galls and sub- 

 acetate of lead produce no effect ; the alcoholic solution has no al- 

 kaline reaction. — Journal de Chim. Medicate, Aout, 1840. 



INDEX 



