490 On the Poison Plants of Western Australia. 



crystallised in needles, was very hygroscopic, and decomposed when its 

 aqueous solution was heated above 35° C, a substance crystallising in cubes 

 being formed ; in spite of its hygroscopic character, it is but sparingly soluble 

 in water (less than 1 per cent.). Its toxic action was shown by injection of a 

 guinea-pig : one-tenth of a grain killed in five minutes. The symptoms were 

 similar to those caused by cygnine. 



The alkaloid itself was only obtained in a semi-crystalline condition by 

 very careful spontaneous evaporation of the alcoholic solution in the dark ; 

 as a rule, it remained as an amorphous substance resembling isinglass. It 

 decomposed on heating. An analysis gave the following results (the mean of 

 four analyses) :— C = 671, H = 7'7, X = 10:2. Calculated for C23H31N3O4, 

 C = 66-8, H = 7-5, N = 10*2. 



The gold salt was prepared as an amorphous yellow precipitate ; it decom- 

 poses on exposure to light and moist air, and melts at about 100° C. It is 

 freely soluble in alcohol, but sparingly so in water. On analysis, the mean 

 of five analyses gave C = 36*3, H = 41, N = 5-5, Au = 261, CI = 19*0. 

 Calculated for C23H31N3O4, HAuCl 4 , C = 36-7, H = 4'25, N = 5;6, Au = 261, 

 CI = 18*9. This new alkaloid has been named " Lohine" 



In nearly all its characteristics it resembles cygnine, but it is more stable, 

 for the free alkaloid was isolated. Like cygnine, its hydrochloride, on heating, 

 yields a non-nitrogenous substance, crystallising in cubes, and a nitrogenous 

 uncrystallisable compound. These cubical crystals are fairly soluble in water, 

 very soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in ether. They melt without decom- 

 position at 107° C. They are non-nitrogenous and faintly acidic. The mean 

 of two analyses was C = 63 3, H = 8*4. Calculated for C9H14O3, C = 63*5, 

 H = 8-2. 



Isolation of Malic Acid from "Box " Poison Plant. 



The lead precipitates obtained during the clearing operations in the 

 isolation of the alkaloid were treated with sulphuretted hydrogen. From 

 the filtrate an acid was obtained that gave a white amorphous precipitate 

 with silver salts ; a white, cloudy precipitate, heav}' on boiling with calcium 

 hydrate ; and a precipitate with lead salts. The acid solution was neutralised 

 with ammonia, treated with alcohol to precipitate mucilaginous matter, and 

 evaporated to dryness. Deliquescent crystals resulted. These were then 

 heated on a water-bath with excess of lime water, when a crop of crystals 

 gradually deposited. The free acid prepared from this salt was very soluble 

 in water. The mean of two analyses gave C = 35*8, H = 4*6. Calculated 

 for C4H6O5, C = 35*8, H = 4'5. "From this and the properties of the acid 

 it is probably malic acid. The calcium salt was also analysed, found 



