IN THE WOOD OF THE BEBEERU OR GREENHEART TREE. 573 



is soluble in 56-81 parts of cold water, and in 47'3 parts of boiling water. The 

 aqueous solution possessed a powerfully alkaline reaction. When boiled with a 

 solution of chloride of ammonium, ammonia was evolved abundantly ; when 

 treated with solution of nitrate of silver, a white precipitate fell, which became 

 black on boiling. 



Sulphuric acid dissolved the yellow base with the production of a dirty 

 brownish-yellow colour. When binoxide of manganese was added to the acid 

 solution, a magnificent green colour was produced, which, on exposure to air, 

 changed to a rich purple, and ultimately assumed a dirty red tint. This reaction 

 was compared with, and found to be identical with that manifested by nec- 

 tandria, although, from the very remarkable differences in the action of solvents 

 upon them, the one alkaloid could not be contaminated with the other. The 

 yellow base is rich in nitrogen ; and when heated on platinum it melts, and 

 evolves the same fumes as bebeerine and nectandria. 



When dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and treated with tetrachloride of 

 platinum, a yellow precipitate falls, which on the fluid being heated to boiling 

 point fuses, and is then perceptibly dissolved. A portion resists solution, and is 

 converted into a brown substance. On cooling, the solution deposits a yellow 

 powder, which is not amorphous, but displays, under a power of 300 diameters, 

 clusters of nodules similar to those of the alkaloid itself, as it is deposited from 

 its aqueous solution. The platinum was determined. 



I. 551 grms. of the double salt gave 0-111 grms. of platinum = 20*1 of 

 platinum per cent. 



II. 0345 grms. of the double salt gave 0071 grms. of platinum = 20*57 of 

 platinum per cent. 



We reserve the further examination of this base for a future memoir ; as far 

 as our examination goes, it however appears to show, that this is best charac- 

 terised and most clearly separated of all the products obtained from the bebeeru 

 tree. 



III. Examination of the Substance Insoluble in Chloroform and in Boiling Wutcr. 



After treatment with chloroform and with boiling water, there still remains a 

 considerable residue. It appears, from the observations which we have hitherto 

 made upon it, that this residue possesses all the characters of a non-crystalline 

 vegetable base, or of a mixture of such bases. It is soluble in alcohol, and almost 

 completely insoluble in ether and chloroform. Its alcoholic solution possesses 

 an alkaline reaction. The substance is capable of neutralising acids, and forms 

 with platinum tetrachloride, a compound which is fusible in boiling water. 



It is our intention to prosecute further the chemical characters of the alkaloids 

 of the wood of the bebeeru tree, and more particularly to direct our attention 

 to their therapeutical properties. 



