THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
1 February 15, lfc73. 
014 
C. lancifolia (cortical parenchyma, thick and 
parenchymatous). 
In 1000 Parts. 
Entire Cortical Intermediate Liber 
bark. parenchyma, layers. layers. 
Quinine . . 8T0 . . 24-60 . . 11-10 . . 6.60 
Cinchonine . 3'60 . . 5-50 . . 4-80 . . 3-20 
New Granada Bark (very fibrous, liber abundant). 
In 1000 Parts. 
Entire Cortical Intermediate Liber 
bark. parenchyma. layers. layers. 
Quinine . 2-01 . . 3-90 . . traces . . none. 
Cinchonine 11-20 . . 7’60 . . 8-40 . . 8-00 
Bright Bed Bark. 
In 1000 Parts. 
Entire Cortical Intermediate Liber 
bark. parenchyma. layers. layers. 
Quinine \ 
Cinchonine > . 20-25 . . 21-60 . . 11-20. . . 14-80 
Quinidine J 
C. siiccirubra. In 1000 Parts. 
Entire Cortical Intermediate 
bark. parenchyma layers. 
Total alkaloids . 45-40 . . 36-60 . . 23*20 . 
Quinine (imp.)* 10-60 . . 19-60 . . 12-00 . 
Cinchonine . . 34-76 . . 17-00 . . 11-10 . 
Huanuco Bark. In 1000 Parts. 
Entire 
Cortical 
Liber 
Quinine . . . 
bark. 
parenchyma. 
layers. 
. . tracesf . 
. traces . 
. none. 
Cinchonine and ) 
Cinchonidine j 
. . . 51-40 . 
o 
o 
u- 
. 45-7 
Loxa Bark. In 1000 Parts. 
Entire 
Cortical 
Liber 
bark. parenchyma. 
layers. 
Quinine . . . 
. traces . . 
traces . . 
none. 
Cinchonine . . 
. 2-20 . . . 
1-40 . . . 
traces. 
These results show that quinine exists in all 
parts ot the bark, hut in a much larger proportion 
in the external than in the liber layers ; and analy¬ 
sis of the intermediate layers indicates that the pro¬ 
portion diminishes pretty regularly from the exterior 
to the interior. The seat of the cinchonine does 
not however appear to be so w T ell established. If 
experiments 1, 2, 3, G, 7, 8 appear to show that, like 
quinine, it accumulates in the external parts of the 
bark, experiments 4 and 5 show some indications 
in favour of the liber layers. 
The whole of these results are perfectly in accord 
with the experiments of Mr. J. E. Howard. 
* Prom the large proportion of cinchonine present in this 
bark it is very difficult to separate exactly the quinine in the 
state of sulphate; it being necessary to effect the separation 
previously by means of washed ether. Now this vehicle 
carries away together with ail the quinine and a little cincho¬ 
nine, a resinoid matter (quinoidine), which saturates the 
sulphuric acid, hinders the crystallization of the sulphate 
and remains in the mother-liquor. It constitutes about one- 
third of the products soluble in ether; is precipitated freely 
by ferrocyanide of potassium, and is not coloured green by 
chlorine or ammonia. It occurs principally in the external 
layers. 
!.It appeared strange not to find quinine in this specimen 
of cinchona, since authors having spoken of it as containing 
5 to 6 parts per 1000. Does the error arise in the separation 
of the two alkaloids by ether P In every case the cinchonine 
here noted was partly soluble in washed ether, and showed 
very feebly some reactions of quinine. 
Liber 
layers. 
. 16-40 
. 6-40 
. 10-00 
STARCH AND ALBUMEN.* 
BY R. ROTHER. 
The non-appearance of coagulated albumen, by boiling 
the percolate obtained in exhausting licorice root which, 
had been previously moistened and heated with a 
portion of the menstruum, induced the writer to ascribe 
this effect to the solvent action of starch upon albumen, 
both of which bodies are normal constituents of the root. 
But, to obtain more direct and positive evidence, the 
exigencies of the case required that the pure isolated 
bodies should be brought in contact under those circum¬ 
stances in the absence of other extraneous matters of the 
root that would naturally interfere with or entirely ob¬ 
scure the reaction, consequently the writer employed 
egg albumen and pure starch. 
Pure starch (fifty grains) was mixed with water (one fluid 
ounce), and the albumen of one egg was diluted with 
water to three fluid ounces, and strained through muslin. 
Then after uniting the clear albumen solution with the 
starch, the mixture was subjected to prolonged boiling; 
no precipitation however occurred, the liquid having 
only the opalescent appearance of starch water. The 
solution filtered quite readily, yielding a clear and 
transparent filtrate. A drop of strong nitric acid added 
to this instantly produced a dense gelatinous white 
coagulum. The solution, when diluted and treated with 
nitric acid, immediately gave an abundant precipitate of 
white voluminous flakes, which rapidly deposited, 
leaving the supernatant liquid clear. 
The writer considers that these positive reactions are 
indubitable evidence that in the presence of starch, 
albumen is held perfectly in aqueous solution at a boiling 
temperature, and that only a strong acid can then 
separate it from such a solution. 
LEAD POISONING.f 
BY BEVAN LEWIS, M.R.C.S., L.C.R.P. 
The manufacture of metallic lead is a process attended 
by disastrous results to those workmen who neglect, 
during their employment, those precautions necessary 
for their safety. Undoubtedly the carbonate is by far 
the most poisonous salt of lead; yet the fumes which 
arise round the workmen at the lead works are also 
extremely deleterious. To illustrate how far these men 
are exposed to these poisonous influences I cannot do 
better than rapidly glance at the various processes which 
the metal undergoes from the condition of rough ore to 
that of pure lead. 
The men more immediately concerned in working the 
metal belong to four classes—the calciner-men, furnace- 
men, potmen, and refinery-men. The first of these are 
occupied in passing the rough ore through its first stage 
of reduction tow-ards metallic lead. The ore consists 
of the sulphuret of the metal—the “galena” of com¬ 
merce, containing usually a large percentage of silver. 
By the heat of the calciners this argentiferous galena is 
brought into the condition of sulphate, free oxide of 
lead, and sulphuric acid ; these oxidized products react 
on the remaining sulphide, producing metallic lead and 
sulphurous acid. The fumes of sulphurous acid are 
allowed free exit from the flues into huge culverts which 
run along the floor beneath the furnaces, branching out 
to receive the contents of other flues, eventually termi¬ 
nating in a condensing chamber near the stack. Now, 
it will be observed that during the roasting of the ore 
the men are perfectly shielded from its fumes, except at 
intervals of from fifteen to twenty minutes, when the 
doors are thrown back, and the contents of the furnace 
well stirred about. During this process of stirring, and 
still more so on “ discharging ” the contents of the 
furnace, huge volumes of the fumes issue from the 
* From the ‘ Pharmacist/ 
t From the ‘ Medical Times and Gazette/ 
