NITRIC ACID ON VARIOUS VEGETABLES. 
425 
Sparteine. 
The acid mother-liquor from the crude scoparine, after having- been concentrated to 
a very moderate bulk, was introduced along with a considerable excess of soda into a 
capacious distilling apparatus. As the somewhat viscid liquor was very apt to froth 
up and come over, only a very moderate heat was applied at first; but as the distilla- 
tion proceeded the fire was increased, and the boiling was kept up pretty briskly, fresh 
quantities of water being added so long as the liquid which distilled over had a 
strongly bitter taste. These liquids were then mixed, and were repeatedly rectified 
with an excess of common salt. During the concluding rectification, the first portion 
of the liquid which came over contained a considerable amount of ammonia, and as 
the distillation proceeded a small quantity of colourless heavy oil (sparteine) began 
to appear, and soon sunk to the bottom of the receiver. The amount of the oil ob- 
tained from any one portion of the distilled liquid was never great, but it continued 
to come over for a very long time, so that by pouring back into the still the clear 
liquid which had deposited its oil and redistilling it, new quantities of oil continued 
to be obtained for a very considerable length of time. 
The sparteine procured in the way just described is easily freed from any adhering 
ammonia by being washed with successive quantities of cold water, in which this 
oily base is but very slightly soluble. Sparteine is a somewhat viscid colourless oil, 
which when first distilled is quite transparent, but on remaining for some hours in 
contact with water, it becomes slightly opalescent. In the course of a week or two a 
thin white coating forms at the line of junction with the water, and if but a small 
quantity of water is present, it is absorbed by the base, a hydrate being probably 
produced. When sparteine is exposed to the air for some days, it gradually acquires 
a brownish yellow colour. It is considerably heavier than water and has a feeble 
smell, somewhat resembling that of aniline. It has a distinctly alkaline reaction, 
neutralizing the strongest acids perfectly. Sparteine and its salts have an extremely 
bitter taste. When brought in contact with hydrochloric acid sparteine immediately 
combines with it, though owing to the slight amount of volatility in the base scarcely 
any white vapours are evolved. Neither its acid or its neutral solution in hydro- 
chloric acid, though evaporated in vacuo, could be made to crystallize, and I was not 
more successful; with the nitrate. When sparteine was boiled for a considerable 
length of time with an excess of fuming nitric acid, it was slowly decomposed. The 
solution was concentrated to drive off the excess of acid, and on adding a little water 
a slight flocculent precipitate fell (probably a resin), while a clear yellow solution 
was obtained. On treating one portion of this solution with hypochlorite of lime, 
chloropicrine was evolved ; and on saturating a second portion of it with potash and 
distilling, a few drops of an apparently new base were produced. When sparteine is 
boiled for a considerable time with an excess of strong hydrochloric acid, it seems 
also to be partially decomposed, as it acquires an odour resembling that of mice. 
When a few drops of bromine are poured upon a little sparteine much heat is pro- 
