136 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
cool, the solution becomes quite milky, not, as might at first sight be supposed, 
from a deposition of minute crystals; but, as the microscope shows, by the 
deposition of the salt in the form of oily globules, which, on cooling, become 
vitreous balls, then in a short time change to fine filiform masses of crystals. 
In this form the salt is again deposited upon the outside periphery of the 
mass, in an amorphous condition ; but at the same time becoming crystalline 
in the interior, as the process continues. A slide from which micro-photo- 
grapbs were procured, by Mr. J. Woodworth, was produced by allowing the 
solution of chlorate of quinine to cool slowly upon the glass, and when the 
globules were sufficiently collected to dry rapidly under the receiver of an 
air-pump ; by this means the chlorate was retained in its vitreous condition, 
otherwise it became crystallized. The globules seemed to arrange themselves 
in a symmetrical form, so much so as to produce a rather pretty microscopic 
object, each large globule being surrounded by a series of small beads. The 
vitreous quinine does not polarize, whilst the crystalline does. When the 
amorphous salt is once dried, it retains that character permanently, but on 
submerging it in a cold saturated solution of the salt, it very slowly and im¬ 
perfectly regains its crystalline form. 
When the mushroom-shaped masses are broken up, they resemble the ordi- 
nar}'' salts of quinine in appearance. 
The chlorate crystallizes readily from spirit, in which it is very soluble ; the 
solution gives a salt retaining the same number of atoms of water of hydra¬ 
tion. Heated gently upon a spatula, it gradually melts, and, after a little 
time, goes off with a vivid combustion, which sometimes amounts to explosive 
violence. The combustion is generally attended with a cloud of carbon, a 
carbonaceous residue being also left upon the spatula. Treated with hydro¬ 
chloric acid and gently warmed, it evolves chlorine. On adding ammonia in 
excess to this mixture, a green colour is developed. It is very soluble in 
boiling-water, and soluble in 78'5 parts of cold (15*5° C.). It is also very so¬ 
luble in water acidulated with the stronger acids, including perchloric.* 
It crystallizes much more readily from its solution if it is impure, viz. if it 
contains a trace of sulphate or hydrochlorate, the crystals in each case retain¬ 
ing the character of the impurity. 
Tests .—Chlorate of quinine, when dissolved in water and acidulated with 
nitric acid, should give no precipitate with chloride of barium, and none, or 
only a faint opalescence with nitrate of silver. It should give no precipitate 
with diluted sulphuric acid, the ordinary tests for quinine being applicable 
to the base. It is always necessary to ignite a portion Avhich should leave no 
appreciable residue. A sample of the so-called chloride of quinine, submitted 
to us, consisted of chlorate of potassium and sulphate of quinine. 
Process for maJcing Chlorate of Quinine .—The following process and pre¬ 
cautions have been adopted by the writer in the manufacture of this prepara¬ 
tion 1 —310 grains of chlorate of barium are dissolved in a small quantity of 
boiling water, 2 ounces of Howard’s sulphate of quinine are mixed with about 
12 ounces of hot water, at a temperature of about 90° C., in a porcelain dish. 
Double decomposition takes place immediately on mixing the two solutions. 
2(2C2oH2,]Vr2 02 ,H 2 S 04 ) 15H2 0+2(2BaC103,H2 0)-10H2 0= 
4 C20 H24 No O2, HCIO3) 7 H2 O +2 Ea2 SO4. 
It is intended that so far there should be a slight excess of sulphate of 
* For the internal administration of this salt, it is soluble enough in water (probably the 
most efficacious method of exhibiting it). It is incompatible with the mineral acids, as they 
form the ordinary salts of quinine ; it is for this reason that Dr. Lyons has hitherto prescribed 
it in conjunction with perchloric acid, itself a valuable oxidizer. 
