September 24 , 1870.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
215 
place until the solution lias become acid at the posi¬ 
tive pole. 
Second.—Neutral sulphate of strychnine. The 
solution of the sulphate, slightly acidulated, is soon 
tilled with a magnificent needle-form crystallization. 
From the commencement the gas disengaged at the 
positive electrode contains carbonic acid and car¬ 
bonic oxide. 
First Gas. After 36 hours. 
C 2 0 4 . 1-3 . 1-4 
C 2 0 2 . 3-5 . 2-7 
0.-> .««••••• 04*3 ....., 95*2 
N.. 0-9 . 0-7 
Upon continuing the experiment a fine yellow 
•coloration manifests itself in the positive compart¬ 
ment, and, what is remarkable, the crystals disap¬ 
pear hi the negative solution, the liquid becoming 
limpid, and remaining so during the continuance of 
the electrolysis. 
When a very acid solution of the sulphate of strych¬ 
nine is operated upon, the positive solution acquires 
immediately a yellow colour. The oxidation is very 
energetic, as may be seen by the following ana¬ 
lysis :— 
C 2 0 4 . 6-4 
C 2 0 2 . 6-4 
0 2 .87*2 
IV.-ELECTROLYSIS OF CODEINE. 
First.—Neutral sulphate of codeine. While the 
•escape of gas at the negative pole is quite rapid, it 
is almost nothing in the other compartment; the 
contents of the latter acquire a yellow coloration, 
passing afterwards to an orange-yellow. At the 
same time crystals of codeine are deposited upon the 
negative electrode. 
Second.—Acid sulphate of codeine. The action is 
very energetic, the positive solution assuming a 
magnificent yellow colour, which changes rapidly to 
an orange-yellow, these phenomena being precisely 
those observed when the alkaloid is touched with 
nitric acid. The first bubbles of gas contain carbonic 
acid and carbonic oxide. 
Analysis of Gas after 24 hours. 
Volume of the gas .241 * 
After the action of potassa.226-5 j 2 4 “ 0 
,, „ the pyrogallate 18 0 2 = 208-5 
„ „ acid chloride .. 1*5 C 2 0 2 =16’5. 
From which is deduced:— 
c 2 0 4 . 
. 6-0 
C 2 0, . 
. 6-7 
0 ,. 
.86-5 
N. 
. 0-8 
V.—ELECTROLYSIS OF QUININE. 
The electrolytic experiments which I have made 
upon the sulphate of quinine, furnished results ana¬ 
logous to the foregoing. It is notable, however, that 
a neutral solution of the sulphate of quinine is such 
a poor conductor of the current that decomposition 
takes place only with the greatest difficulty. From 
this observation I was led to believe, in the com¬ 
mencement of these researches, that the neutral salts 
of the alkaloids were not susceptible of electrolytic 
decomposition. On the contrary, the electrolysis of 
the acid sulphate is easily accomplished, the positive 
solution acquires a red tint, which subsequently be¬ 
comes a deep red, and the gas evolved contains car¬ 
bonic acid and carbonic oxide. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
The conclusions drawn from the foregoing experi¬ 
ments may be briefly stated as follows :— 
First.—The electric current decomposes the salts 
of the alkaloids in the same manner that it does the 
neutral sulphate of ammonia; that is to say, the 
basic element goes to reconstitute the alkali at the 
negative pole, whilst the remaining elements are 
liberated at the positive pole. 
Second.—In an acid solution, and in a neutral one 
with more difficulty, the positive liquid takes a 
coloration which is identical with that obtained by 
the direct application of nitric acid to the alkaloid, 
and this is independent of the formation of nitroge¬ 
nous compounds. 
Third.—The gas disengaged at the positive pole 
contains not only oxygen, but also carbonic acid and 
carbonic oxide, sometimes in equal volumes. 
Fourth.—Besides these gases, there are formed 
various other products, principally ammoniacal com¬ 
pounds, resulting from the breaking up of the alka¬ 
loids under the influence of the oxygen, which pro¬ 
duces the effects of a gradual combustion, and this is 
more energetic in proportion to the increased acidity 
of the solution. 
The last fact is significant of the possibility of 
deriving the alkaloids from other than the natural 
sources, as remarked in connection with the electro¬ 
lysis of atropine. 
These experiments assume, therefore, considerable 
importance, since they may lead to the discovery of 
facts which some day may result in the synthetical 
production of the natural organic alkaloids. 
Sulphate of Iron has been very successfully em¬ 
ployed as a disinfectant of all discharges from the pa¬ 
tients of the hospital, and it has been regularly put into 
the latrines, etc. This salt has the advantage of cheap¬ 
ness as well as most undoubted efficiency. It is exten¬ 
sively made in some parts of China by mixing together 
small coal and iron pyrites, covering over the mass very 
securely, and allowing decomposition to take place. 
After the violent chemical action has ceased the mass is 
broken up, dissolved in boiling water, and crystallized 
out in shallow vessels. It is used in various chemical 
processes, such as the making of the beautifully crystal¬ 
lized K’ing Fen, or calomel, produced by chemical 
manufacturers in Hankow, but ingeniously adulterated 
with selenite. Diluted iodine tincture and the ethereal 
preparation of iodidine have been found the best disin¬ 
fectants and stimulants for unhealthy surfaces.— Annual 
Report of the Hankow Medical Mission , by F. Porter 
Smith , M.B. 
Liquid Cement. —For cementing glass, crockery, 
wood, etc., the following compound is recommended:— 
Six parts of glue, in small pieces, are macerated for seve¬ 
ral hours in sixteen parts of water; one part of hydro¬ 
chloric acid and one part and a half of sulphate of zinc 
are then added, and the mixture is exposed, for ten or 
twelve hours, to a temperature of 68° or 70° O.— Pharm. 
Cent. Halle. 
Cure for Warts. —The best cautery for warts is 
said to be dichloracetic acid. It must be applied on the 
sharp point of a stopper made for the purpose, and great 
caution ought to be observed not to use too much of it, 
as it will eat a deep hole into the flesh. One applica¬ 
tion is frequently sufficient to drive away a wart.— 
Scientific American. 
Condy’s Patent Fluid. —In quoting the article un¬ 
der this title in last week’s issue, the source from whence 
it was taken was omitted. It appeared first in the Prac¬ 
titioner for August. 
