366 poisons : their effects and detection. 
Japaconitine (acetyl-benzoyl-japaconine), 
/OCO.CH 3 
C'34H490 11 N = C 2 iH 29 0 3 N^— (OCH 3 ) 4 
\oco.c 6 h 6 
Indaconitine (acetyl-benzoyl-pseudaconine), 
C 34 H 47 O 10 N=C 91 H, 7 O,N 
21 iJ -27 v - / 2- i 
'OCO.CH 3 
-(OCH 3 ) 4 
,oco.c 6 h 6 
[§ 433- 
2. PSEUDACONITINES. 
Pseudaconitine (acetyl-veratroyl-pseudaconine), 
/OCO.CHg 
rZ_(0CH 3 ) 4 
\0C0.C 6 H 3 (0.CH 3 ) 2 
C 36 H 61 0 12 N=C 21 H 27 0 2 N/(OCH 3 ) 4 
Bikhaconitine (acetyl-veratroyl-bikhaconine), 
/CCO.CHg 
C 36 H 51 O u N=C 21 H 27 ON / (OCH 3 ) 4 
\OCO.C 6 H 3 (O.CH 3 ) 2 
Each of the aconitines contains four methoxyl groups, and on 
hydrolysis furnishes one molecular proportion of acetic and one of benzoic 
acid ; thus aconitine shguld yield 18-9 benzoic, 9-3 per cent, acetic acid, 
and 79*8 per cent, aconine ; similarly, j apaconitine breaks up into acetic 
and benzoic acids and j apaconine (C 25 H 43 O 10 N); indaconitine into acetic 
and benzoic acids and pseudaconine, C 25 H 41 0 8 N. The pseudaconitines 
yield on hydrolysis acetic and veratric acids and a base ; pseudaconitine 
giving the base pseudaconine (C 25 H 41 0 8 N), and bikhaconitine breaking 
up into the organic acids already mentioned and the base bikhaconine, 
thus:— 
Bikhaconine. 
Acetic Veratric 
Acid. Acid. 
^36^5i^n-^~ 6 < 25 H 41 0 7 N-f-0 2 H 4 0 2 -(—C 9 H 10 O 4 . 
The saponification of the various aconite alkaloids is apparently best 
effected by dissolving in alcohol, making the solution alkaline with soda, 
and digesting at ordinary temperatures for twenty-four hours, at the 
end of which time the solution is neutralised by sulphuric acid, and the 
alcohol got rid of by evaporation in a vacuum at a very gentle heat. 
The aqueous solution can now be acidified again by sulphuric acid, and 
the benzoic or veratric acid, as the case may be, shaken out with benzene. 
The base is now liberated by alkalising with NaOH and shaking out 
with ether, while the acetic acid can be distilled off, first acidifying with 
sulphuric acid. 
The ethereal solution of the base Dunstan appears usually to treat 
with fused calcic chloride for some time in order to have a dry ether 
solution. 
