DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 1019 



As the impure strophanthin was found to have a sweet as well as a bitter taste, it was 

 examined for glucose ; and this substance was found to be abundantly present in it, the 

 amount indicated by Fehling's solution being so much as 40*3 per cent. In the 50*35 

 grains of very impure strophanthin there were, therefore — 



Impure strophanthin, 30-04 grains = 59 "66 per cent. 

 Glucose, 20-31 grains = 40-33 „ 



Or, otherwise stated, 136 grains of alcohol extract actually yielded — 



Impure strophanthin, 30 - 04 grains = 22-08 per cent, of alcohol extract, or 0-42 per cent, of comose appendages. 

 Glucose, 20-31 grains = 14-93 „ „ „ 0-29 „ „ , 



The presence of strophanthin, or of a body acting like strophanthin, in the above 

 ether precipitate (impure strophanthin) was demonstrated by administering 0'005 grain 

 of it by subcutaneous injection to a frog weighing 450 grains, when the usual general 

 and cardiac actions of a small dose of this active principle were manifested, and this dose 

 proved to be a lethal one. 



Chemical tests were less conclusive, owing no doubt to the large quantity of glucose 

 present. Dilute sulphuric acid and dilute hydrochloric acid (10 per cent.), with gentle 

 heat, each produced a green colour, but in both cases this passed into a dark brown, 

 almost black, without intermediate colour changes having been observed ; and dilute 

 nitric acid, with heat, produced a brownish-yellow colour, which soon passed into 

 gamboge-yellow. 



Search for an Alkaloid. — A small portion of the above impure strophanthin (or ether 

 precipitate) was heated with soda lime, when it evolved alkaline fumes, which formed a 

 white cloud with strong hydrochloric acid. The precipitate, therefore, contained nitro- 

 gen. A 5 per cent, solution was accordingly tested with a number of reagents for 

 alkaloids. The results were altogether negative with mercuric chloride, potassio-mercuric 

 iodide, tri-iodide of potassium, potassio-bismuthic iodide, potassio-cadmic iodide, meta- 

 tungstate of sodium and phosphoric acid, picric acid, sulphate of zinc, and cobaltous 

 chloride. On the other hand, tri-bromide of potassium very slowly produced a slight 

 amorphous, yellowish- white precipitate ; nitrate of silver, a fairly abundant yellowish- 

 white precipitate ; platinic chloride, after several hours, a slight diffused haziness ; and 

 chloride of gold and cupric sulphate, each a very faint precipitate. 



The greater part, 40 '5 grains, of the ether precipitate (impure strophanthin) was 

 then treated by Stas' method for separating alkaloids. The acid solution in water was 

 made distinctly alkaline by carbonate of sodium ; it became much darker in colour, and 

 at the same time a strong odour similar to that of ethylamine or methylamine was given 

 off. The alkaline solution was carefully shaken with three successive quantities of ethyl 

 ether ; the decanted ethers were washed with distilled water and distilled ; and the 

 residue was dried. The alkaline solution was then similarly treated with three successive 

 quantities of chloroform. The products thus obtained were — 



VOL. XXXV. PART IV. (NO. 21). 7 P 



