84 
PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
taining seeds, previously treated with petroleum ether and absolute 
alcohol, are mounted in a solution of i Gm. ammonium vanadate 
in ioo mils of sulphuric acid, they take on a violet-red color which 
later changes to brown. 
Veratrine.—This alkaloid, with a composition of C37H53NO11, 
is found in various parenchyma cells of Veratrum album. If sections 
of the rhizome or roots are mounted in 2 drops of water and a drop 
of concentrated H 2 S 0 4 and examined microscopically on a glass 
slide, the cell contents and walls of the cells which contain this sub¬ 
stance first take a yellow color which soon changes to an orange-red 
and then to a violet. 
Nicotine.—This is a volatile alkaloid having the formula of 
C10H14N2 which is found in the Nicotiana genus of the Nightshade 
family. Sections of tobacco leaves or stems mounted in dilute 
Lugol’s solution will show first a carmine-red color and then a red¬ 
dish-brown precipitate which in time loses its color. 
Caffeine.—This alkaloid, with a formula of C 8 HioN 4 02 + H 2 0 , 
occurs in Thea, Cojfea, Cola , Sterculea, Ilex and Neea. If thin sec¬ 
tions containing it are placed on a glass slide in 2 or 3 drops of con¬ 
centrated hydrochloric acid and gently heated and then 2 or 3 drops 
of gold chloride solution are added, the sections then pushed to the 
side and the liquid allowed to evaporate, slender yellowish branch¬ 
ing needles of caffeine gold chloride will be seen to separate. 
Cocaine.—This narcotic alkaloid, having the formula Ci 7 H 2 iN 0 4 , 
is found in the leaves of Erythroxylon Coca and E. Truxillense. If 
sections of these leaves are prepared in the same manner as indicated 
for those containing Caffeine, but platinum chloride solution substi¬ 
tuted for that of gold chloride, large feathers or plumes of cocaine- 
chloro-platinate will be seen separating. 
Aconitine (C 3 3H 43 NOi2) is found in various parts of Aconitum 
Napellus. It is particularly abundant in the tuberous root of this 
plant. If sections of aconite root are treated on a glass slide with 
solution of potassium permanganate, a red precipitate of aconitine 
permanganate will appear in the cells containing this alkaloid. 
Colchicine (C22H25NO6).—This alkaloid occurs in the corm and 
seeds of Colchicum autumnale. It is very abundant in the cells 
surrounding the fibro-vascular bundles of the corm. If a section of 
