of the Organic Alkaloids. 55 



whence it appears that the salt is not anhydrous at this tem- 

 perature, but has the composition, 



C i2 H 22 N 2 4 ,HO,S 2 2 + HO. 



and the crystals contain two atoms more of water, 



( 4-4:75 grains, air-dry, lost at 212° 

 i 0-175 ... water, 



giving 3-91 per cent., and 4-30 agrees with this loss by the 



salt, 



C 42 H 22 N 2 4 ,.HQ^S 2 Q 2 +3^ 



Hyposulphite of Ethylostrychnine. — This salt cannot be 

 obtained by the reciprocal action of the iodide of this base* 

 and hyposulphite of soda, for, owing to the insolubility of the 

 former in cold water, by far the greater part of it crystallizes 

 out unchanged when the fluid cools. A small quantity of hy- 

 posulphite, however, is procured by evaporation of the mother 

 liquor ; it crystallizes in delicate needles, very soluble in 

 water and spirit. The same compound may be obtained by 

 passing a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen into the carbonate 

 of thylostrychnine,t and allowing the liquid to stand exposed to 

 a moderate heat. It is, however, in this case accompanied by a 

 product which, to judge from appearances, is the same as that 

 formed by the action of sulphide of ammonium upon strych- 

 nine, already more than once alluded to. This substance, 

 which has a yellow colour, and is of extreme solubility in spi- 

 rit, and nearly insoluble in water, seems to prevent the hypo- 

 sulphite of ethylostrychnine, which is present in abundance, 

 from being easily purified or readily taking on the crystalline 

 condition. For this reason I was unable, with my stock of 

 substance, to obtain the salt in a state suitable for analysis. 



Hyposulphite of Brucine. — When brucine is digested with 

 sulphide of ammonium and a little spirit, this salt is obtained 

 in the course of a few hours. It crystallizes from the liquid, 

 and requires but one other crystallization from boiling water, 

 for complete purification. It then occurs in tufts of colourless 

 prismatic needles, which are difficultly soluble in cold water, 



* Trans. Royal Soc, Edin., vol. xxi., page 33 

 t Ibid., page 42. 



