10 
RODNEY H. TRUE AND W. W. STOCKBERGER 
grown on the experimental farm of the Department at ArKngton 
Farm, Va., were used as material for experimental study. This plant 
was chosen because of the absence of latex and because it is a fair 
representative of a large and much studied group of alkaloid-bearing 
plants. The roots, known to be rich in alkaloids, chiefly atropine, 
were dug in November, 1905, quickly and carefully washed, cut into 
transverse slices from 3 to 6 mm. thick and divided into two lots. 
It has been shown by Sievers^ that there is a wide range of individual 
variation in alkaloidal content in belladonna. The chance for error 
from this source was reduced by dividing the slices of each root 
equally between the two lots. 
One lot of 450 grams fresh weight was placed in a glass jar the 
mouth of which was closed except for holes to permit the escape of 
excess gas and water vapor. CO2 was led from a tank through 
sulphuric acid, thence through a copper coil immersed in boiling water 
to give the gas a greater water-absorbing capacity and thence into 
the bottom of the jar containing the sliced roots. The jar itself stood 
in a water bath kept at boiling temperature from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
while the gas flow was maintained throughout the day. The material 
was dry and hard on December 2. 
A second lot was placed in a similar jar likewise heated in a water 
bath, but provided with a supply of air instead of CO2. Drying was 
finished on November 29 when the material was hard and dry and 
had a pronounced odor of brown sugar. 
Duplicate analyses of the powdered material made by Mr. W. O. 
Richtmann showed the following result : 
Total Alkaloids in Belladonna Roots 
Total Alkaloids, 
Treatment Sample Percent 
Dried in CO2 current A 0.665 
B 0.665 
Dried in air current A 0.642 
B 0.625 
These data show clearly that the alkaloidal yield of belladonna 
root is not dependent on the action of oxygen and, therefore, is 
governed by physiological conditions quite different from those govern- 
3 Sievers, A. F. Individual variation in the alkaloidal content of belladonna 
plants. Journ. Agr. Research 1 : 129-146. 1913. 
