ON SOME VEGETABLE ALKALOIDS. 41 



I must mention that the complete desiccation of this substance was extremely 

 tedious, occupying above a fortnight, and that in the state in which it was burned, 

 it was a very light and bulky powder, highly electrical and hygroscopic, so that the 

 high percentage of hydrogen is not remarkable. The numerical results of the 

 above analysis admit of translation into the formula, which, in analogy with the 

 corresponding combination of potassa, the assumed congener of ethylostrychnine, 

 may be thus written : — 



C i6 H 27 N 2 O t 0, HO + 3 aq. ; 



and this hydrate of oxide of ethylostrychnine differs from the known crystallized 

 hydrate of potassa, in containing an atom of water less. 



The substance as analysed was not deliquescent ; it dissolved immediately on 

 being covered with cold water, furnishing a red fluid, and leaving only a minute 

 flocky residue, which seemed to increase on application of heat ; the solution, 

 made in the cold, became filled, almost immediately on the addition of a little 

 nitric acid, with the crystalline salt before spoken of as characteristic of the base, 

 and no effervescence was perceptible. 



When the hydrate, carefully dried in vacuo, is dissolved in a quantity of ab- 

 solute alcohol, sufficient to prevent a deposit on cooling, the addition of some 

 ether causes the formation of a tremulous jelly, which renders the whole fluid 

 semi-solid. On stirring for some time with a glass rod, this jelly gradually changes 

 into a crystalline substance ; by management of the respective amounts of alco- 

 hol and ether, very beautiful small crystals, perfectly colourless, may be obtained 

 at once, or on standing. To effect this result the hydrate must be well dried, or 

 it falls in purple, oily drops. 



The hydrate cannot be freed of its water of crystallization by exposure to 212°, 

 as at this temperature it undergoes decomposition in a much greater degree ; a 

 portion so heated was found to effervesce in a lively manner with acids, and 

 though it yielded plenty of the crystalline nitrate, yet when treated with cold 

 water it left a considerable residue of the character already described. I made 

 an analysis of a part of the substance giving these reactions with a view of ascer- 

 taining how far decomposition had proceeded, and give it with the understanding 

 of its approximative value : — 



{4*925 grains, dried at 212°, gave 

 12600 ... carbonic acid, and 

 3-480 ... water. 



Pound. Calculation. 



Carbon, . . 



. 69-77 



69-34 



C 46 



276 



Hydrogen, . 



. 785 



7-53 



H 30 



30 



Nitrogen, . 



. 



7-05 



N 2 



28 



Oxygen, . 



• 



16-08 



% 



64 



100-00 398 



