DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHTTS HISPIDTTS. 1023 



obtained from this tincture was- of a dark green colour and acid reaction, and it weighed 

 5 "51 grains. It was further examined so as to determine the quantity of its chief con- 

 stituents. 



Analysis No. 47. 



Impure strophanthin, 127 grain = 23 04 per cent, of alcoholic extract. 



Crystalline substance, 36 grain = 6 53 „ „ 



Mucilage, 027 grain = 4 - 9 ,, „ 



Resin, chlorophyll, fat (?), &c. 3 - 405 grains = 6179 „ „ 



The leaves, therefore, contain only a small quantity of strophanthin, and a large 

 quantity of resin mixed with chlorophyll, &c. The impure strophanthin, which was pre- 

 cipitated from an alcoholic solution by ethyl ether, was freely soluble in water, translucent, 

 brownish-yellow, and bitter, and it gave a characteristic but dirty violet colour when 

 heated with dilute sulphuric acid, and also produced the ordinary pharmacological effects 

 of strophanthin when the one-hundredth of a grain was injected under the skin of a frog. 



The crystalline substance was obtained during the evaporation of a watery solution 

 of the impure strophanthin. It crystallised in minute tufts of a pale brown colour, 

 which, on microscopic examination, were found to consist of slender radiating needles. 

 The crystals were nearly insoluble in rectified spirit, but were slightly soluble in water, 

 and they were destitute of bitterness. When heated with dilute sulphuric acid, they for 

 the most part dissolved and formed a bright yellow solution, which remained unchanged 

 for many hours. One-twentieth of a grain, administered by subcutaneous injection, 

 produced very slight effects in a frog, which recovered after exhibiting for two days 

 symptoms of motor weakness with spastic phenomena, and slowing of the respirations. 



Bark of the Branches. 



When extracted with rectified spirit, the bark of the slender branches, sent by Mr 

 Buchanan (p. 978), yielded 3 *42 per cent, of extract, which was destitute of bitterness, 

 having only a taste like that of wood. From a concentrated alcoholic solution of this 

 extract, ether threw down a small precipitate, which amounted only to '75 per cent, of 

 the bark, or 22 per cent, of the extract. The precipitate was soluble in water, and while 

 the watery solution was being evaporated several long needle-shaped crystals appeared 

 in it. Chemical and pharmacological examination of the precipitate failed, however, to 

 give any evidence of the presence of strophanthin in it ; and even 0"2 grain produced no 

 effect when injected under the skin of a frog. 



Bark of Stem. 



Even a smaller quantity of alcoholic extract (1*5 per cent.) was obtained from the bark 

 of the stem (p. 978). It also was devoid of bitterness, and no strophanthin could be 

 detected in it by chemical or pharmacological tests. 



