132 f THE ALKALOID FROM PITURIE. 
and prisms ; the double salt was crystallized from boiling water, 
dried at 100° C., and the amount of mercury and chlorine deter- 
mined in it. 
Two analyses eee 
IL. Mean. 
Mercury......... a 26 ice cent. 63°09 = 63°175 
i 4°60 24°64 = 24°620 
The mean results “taiieial in the usual manner come to 1-00 
Hg: 2-1955 Cl, or 5 Hg: 10-9775 Cl, or very nearly 5 Hg: 11CL, 
which would fit to the formula 
(C,H,N).HCI + 5 H;, 
which requires 63°31 per cent. oe and 24°7 2 per cent. Cl, while the 
corresponding compound of nicotine 
10H,4N2,HCl + 5 HgCl, 
would require 64:37 per cent. Hg and 25:15 per cent. CL. 
Besides, nicotine is said to form under the same circumstances & 
double salt containing 4 HgCl, instead of 5 molecules of Hg(l, 
(Vide Watt’s Dictionary of Chemistry, iv., p. 47. 
The above two analyses appear to make it probable that the 
true formula of the alkaloid is (C,H,N), or CHiN ¢ ze. double 
that yielded by its ultimate analysis, but much importance cannot 
of course be attached to such a compound as (Q; H,N),HOl+ 
5HgCl,, in which the amount of alkaloid present is so very small. 
Alkalimetric Power. 
02986 gramme of the alkaloid ppigcan 18°5 cc. py normal 
amount to that required by nicotine, 
to form (CH uNo)o H.SO, ; ; the te By weight of nicotine 
being 162, 00162 x 18:5 = 0:2997 instead of 0- 2986. 
subject of this 
ents are ; 
University Laboratory, for his very <ahiable help in ithe 
the details of this investigation. 
Norr.—The name of this substance has been spelt in ie and 
ways, such as, tehiry,” ‘*‘ picherie,” Pee uri.” To show that 
Thi 
il 
Y ** pi 
‘‘pitury” ; the most usual spelling at present is ‘*pitu 
the final “i” J epee | is not to be pronounced as “1 in pine I have 
