5 



tium scoparium of Linn., or common broom, when treated with 

 dilate nitric acid, also yielded oxalic and nitropicric acids. The ex- 

 tracts of Quercus robur, or common oak, and of Betula alba, the 

 birch-tree, when digested with nitric acid, only yielded oxalic acid, 

 but no nitropicric or any analogous nitrogenated acid. 



The results of these experiments seem to indicate therefore that 

 a far greater number of plants are capable of yielding nitropicric 

 acid than has generally been supposed, those which fail to do so 

 constituting a very small minority. 



As the extract of broom, Spartium scoparium^ besides yielding 

 nitropicric acid, exhibited some interesting peculiarities, it was sub- 

 jected to a more minute examination. When an aqueous decoc- 

 tion of broom was concentrated to about a tenth of its bulk, and 

 set aside in a cool situation for twelve hours, it gelatinized into a 

 greenish-brown coherent mass, which was thrown upon a filter and 

 washed with a little cold water. It consisted chiefly of a yellow 

 crystallizable colouring matter (scoparine, the diuretic principle 

 of broom), which was at first contaminated with a considerable 

 amount of chlorophyl. It also contained a small quantity of a 

 volatile organic base (sparteine, the narcotic principle of broom), 

 the greater portion of which however remained in the mother- 

 liquors. 



The scoparine, when purified by repeated crystallizations out of 

 hot water and spirits of wine, formed pale yellow prisms of a feeble 

 acid character. Its formula was found to be C^i Oio* Sco- 

 parine acts as a powerful diuretic. 



The mother-liquor from the crude scoparine, after having been 

 concentrated to a very moderate bulk, v/as distilled along with a 

 considerable excess of soda, when a colourless basic oil slowly col- 

 lected at the bottom of the receiver. This oil was the volatile base 

 sparteine. It has a strongly alkaline reaction, completely neutral- 

 izing the most powerful acids. It is but slightly soluble in acids, 

 but readily dissolves both in alcohol and in sether. It boils at about 

 550° F. The taste of its salts is very bitter. The formula of this 

 base is Cjs H,3 N. The nitrate, sulphate and hydrochlorate of spar- 

 teine are exceedingly soluble, and crystallize with great difficulty. 

 The nitropicrate of sparteine forms long, slender brittle needles, un- 

 distinguishable from nitropicrate of potash. Its formula is C^^ H^g N, 

 HO, H, N3 0,3. 



The double chloride of platinum and sparteine crystallizes in rect- 

 angular prisms. This salt contains two equivalents of water, which 

 it loses at 266° F. Its formula, when dried at 212° F., is C13 N, 

 HCl + Pt CI2 + 2HO. 



The double mercurial salt crystallizes in large, right rhombic 

 prisms, exhibiting the diamond lustre. Its formula is C15 N, 

 HCl, Hg CI. 



Sparteine appears to be a strong narcotic poison, though much 

 inferior in this respect to either nicotine or coneine. 



It is plain, therefore, that in employing a decoction of broom-tops 



