of Edinburgh , Session 1866 - 67 . 161 
three successive portions of distilled water, and finally received 
in a bottle containing a dilute solution of tartaric acid, and shaken 
with it. As soon as the etherial solution is brought in contact 
with the acid, it becomes opalescent, but again assumes its normal 
appearance on agitation. This change is of some value, as indi- 
cating the frequency with which the alkaline solution should be 
treated with ether, as the milkiness, on contact with tartaric acid, 
is not produced when the former is exhausted. On reaching this 
stage the tartaric solution is exposed to a gentle heat — to free it 
completely from ether — filtered, and again treated with carbonate 
of sodium, by means of which a bulky, colourless, and flocculent 
precipitate is obtained. This is collected in a filter, washed, and 
dried, by exposure to a gentle heat for a short time, and then by 
the action of sulphuric acid in vacuo. 
By this means a colourless, amorphous substance is obtained, 
which is the active principle of the Akazga poison, and which pos- 
sesses the general properties of a vegetable alkaloid. About 10 
grains may be separated from 500 grains of the powdered stem- 
bark, or 2 per cent. Akazgia is proposed as its name ; and it is 
hoped that when the plant is described, if it has been previously 
unknown to science, Akazga will be adopted as its specific name, 
and thus the usual connection of nomenclature between the vege- 
table alkaloid and its source will be maintained. 
Akazgia is soluble in about 60 parts of cold absolute alcohol ; in 
about 16 parts of spirit, of 85 per cent. ; in about 120 parts of an- 
hydrous sulphuric ether ; and in 13,000 parts of distilled water, 
at a temperature of 60° F. It is freely soluble in chloroform, in 
bisulphide of carbon, in benzole, and in sulphuric ether of spe- 
cific gravity 0 735. It crystallises with difficulty, but it may be 
obtained in the form of minute prisms, by the slow evaporation of 
a solution in rectified spirit. An analysis of its platinum-salt, and 
a determination of its combining proportion with dry hydrochloric 
acid, yielded 290 in the former, and 293 in the latter, as the equi- 
valent of Akazgia. When heated it becomes yellow, then melts, and 
gives off fumes of a pungent, disagreeable odour, and finally becomes 
charred, but leaves almost no residue if the heat be continued for a 
sufficient time. Its solutions have an alkaline reaction, and neu- 
tralise acids; and the salts are freely soluble in water, and have a 
VOL. VI. 
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