of the Organic A Ikaloids. 49 



by this process, I have found that when the alkaloids are di- 

 gested with fresh aqueous sulphide of ammonium, and some 

 spirit of wine in an open flask, after a lapse of time, varying 

 from a few hours to a day or two, hydrosulphuric acid cannot 

 be detected, while hyposulphurous acid is present in abund- 

 ance, in combination either with ammonia alone, or with it 

 and the alkaloid employed. The comparative insolubility of 

 the organic salt appears to be that which determines or favours 

 its formation ; for the deportment of all the bases is not the 

 same in this process, which affords an interesting instance of 

 the modifying influence exerted by circumstances over the 

 play of chemical affinities ; for here we see some of those al- 

 kaloids which are thrown down from their salts by aqueous 

 ammonia, in their turn displacing this alkali when the circum- 

 stances are, as it were, reversed. It is also curious to observe 

 how the presence of the fixed base determines the formation of 

 hyposulphurous acid so rapidly in comparison with its produc- 

 tion in aqueous sulphide of ammonium alone. 



I have also found that some of the alkaloids dissolve when 

 a current of sulphuretted hydrogen is passed through water 

 in which they are suspended,* and these fluids yield hypo- 

 sulphites by digestion. The salts of this acid may also be 

 obtained by double decomposition in cases where the alkaloids 

 afford sufficiently soluble and neutral compounds with other 

 acids to start from, and I have used this method in several 

 instances. 



The following is the account of the salts I have examined, 

 and I am again indebted to Professor Anderson, in whose 

 laboratory in Glasgow this investigation was pursued, for some 

 specimens of the pure alkaloids from his collection. 



Hyposulphite of Quinine. — This salt is obtained after about 

 a day's digestion of pure quinine with sulphide of ammonium 

 and a little spirit of wine. It separates from the fluid in 



* When strychnine is treated in this way, it yields a crystalline hydro- 

 sulphuret. The salt occurs in the form of colourless prismatic needles as 

 deposited from cold water ; it is very unstable, being resolved on standing 

 into sulphuretted hydrogen, which escapes, and the pure base. This effect is 

 brought about immediately on boiling the aqueous solution of the crystals. 

 I am not aware that the hydrosulphuret of an organic base has been before 

 observed. 



VOL. I. NO. I. — JAN. 1855. D 



