286 Dr. C. It. A. Wright's Contributions to the [Apr. 11, 



§ 4. Action of Sulphuric Acid on Oodeia and its Polymerides. 



The results detailed in the previous sections show that the action of 

 sulphuric acid on codeia is to polymerize it with the formation of di-, 

 tri-, and tetracodeia, the substances obtained by Armstrong and by An- 

 derson by this means being identical with the first and last of these bases. 

 It appears probable that tetracodeia may be formed by the further poly- 

 merization of dicodeia, whereas it would seem as though tricodeia were 

 not likely to be obtained from dicodeia ; on the other hand, it is pos- 

 sible that tetracodeia is directly produced from codeia, and that it could not 

 be formed from dicodeia. To settle this point, pure dicodeia was heated 

 to very gentle ebullition with sulphuric acid diluted with its own bulk 

 of water for five hours, the operation being conducted in a long-necked 

 flask, so that no appreciable concentration by evaporation took place. 

 At the end of this time the dicodeia was wholly converted into a base, of 

 which ether dissolved only traces, and hence no tricodeia was formed. 

 After precipitation by Na 2 C0 3 and drying, the free base was dissolved 

 in alcohol and fractionally precipitated by ether. If the alcoholic solu- 

 tion be nearly free from water, the ether throws down solid amorphous 

 flakes ; but if 10 or more per cent, of water be present, the ether precipi- 

 tate is a tarry fluid containing water, alcohol, and the base. Flakes of 

 tetracodeia were thus obtained identical in all respects with that obtained 

 by the action of phosphoric acid ; a trace of some product of the further 

 action of sulphuric acid appeared to be present, however, as the free 

 * base turned slightly green on drying, without, however, absorbing so much 

 oxygen as to make any appreciable difference in its composition. Dried at 

 100°, 0-221 grm. gave 0-583 C0 2 and 0-142 H 2 O. 



Calculated. 



, * x Found. 



C 1U 1728 72-24 71'94 



H 168 168 7-02 7*14 



N 8 112 4-68 



Q, )4 J384 16-06 



C 144 H 168 N 8 24 2392 100-00 



If the action of sulphuric acid be pushed further than this point, a smell 

 of S0 2 is perceptible, and the product obtained rapidly oxidizes on preci- 

 pitation by Na 2 C0 3 and exposure to air. Nothing fit for analysis was 

 obtained from the product, which probably is formed by the dehydration, 

 oxidation, and possibly demethylization of tetracodeia, 



§5. On the Physiological Action of the foregoing Polymerides. By 

 Reginald Stocker, M.B., Pathologist in St. Mary' s Hospital Medical 

 School. 



An aqueous solution of the hydrochlorate of codeia and its polymerides 

 was in each case employed, being subcutaneously injected into adult cats (a 



