1020 DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 



Analysis No. 43. 



Ether extract, - 04 grain = 0'098 per cent, of 40 - 5 grains of impure strophanthin. 



Chloroform extract, 0*18 grain = 0*44 „ 40 - 5 „ „ 



Assuming that the whole of the 50'35 grains of impure strophanthin had been sub- 

 jected to Stas' process, the results, on the above basis, would have been — 



Ether extract, - 49 grain = 0'036 per cent, of alcohol extractor 0"0007 per cent, of comose 



appendages. 

 Chloroform extract, 0"223 grains = - 163 per cent, of alcohol extract, or - 003 per cent, of comose 



appendages. 



Only an insignificant product, therefore, was obtained when the extract derived 

 from a very large quantity of the comose appendages was subjected to Stas' process for 

 the separation of alkaloids. So small, indeed, was this product that its alkaloidal or 

 other characters could not satisfactorily be determined. The following, however, were 

 ascertained : — 



The ether product was amorphous, of a brownish-yellow colour, slightly bitter, and 

 with a strong aromatic odour. It became opaque when distilled water or dilute acetic 

 or hydrochloric acid was brought into contact with it, and it was insoluble in each of 

 these liquids, but it was readily dissolved by weak alkalies and again precipitated by 

 acids. 



The chloroform product was also amorphous and brownish-yellow, and it had a faint 

 aromatic odour and a decidedly bitter taste. It also became opaque when moistened 

 with water, or with dilute acetic or hydrochloric acid ; but while it was insoluble in 

 water, it was partly soluble in a large bulk of either acid. Prolonged contact with dilute 

 acetic acid resulted in a very bitter, yellowish solution being obtained ; and after several 

 washings with this acid, the evaporated solutions gave an amorphous slightly coloured 

 residue, which weighed only 0*04 grains. When administered by subcutaneous injec- 

 tion, 0*01 grain of this residue was found to be a lethal dose for a frog weighing 470 

 grains ; and the symptoms, including the changes in the heart's action, were the same 

 as those that are produced by strophanthin. The remainder of the 0"04 grains was dis- 

 solved in distilled water, and tested with reagents for alkaloids with the following- 

 results : — Auric chloride caused a haziness, and tri-bromide of potassium and metatung- 

 state of sodium with phosphoric acid each a very slight haze ; but no change was caused 

 by potassio-mercuric iodide, platinic chloride, potassio-bismuthic iodide, potassio-cadmic 

 iodide, nor by picric acid. 



In another process, in which also 7000 grains of comose appendages were examined 

 in the same manner as has above been described, the results were equally inconclusive 

 of the existence of an alkaloid. It is a significant fact that when the alcoholic extract of 



