470 poisons : their effects and detection. [§ 600. 
or ergotoxine, or both, in a tube, best under diminished pressure. The 
yield is small, very little more than 4 per cent. ; it appears first as a 
liquid, and on cooling becomes crystalline. Once set free, it may 
be sublimed at 100°, and the melting-point is 107°-108°. It gives 
the pyrrole reaction with a pinewood splint moistened with hydro¬ 
chloric acid. 
Isobutyril formamide has been synthetised by the reaction of 
anhydrous hydrogen cyanide and butyril chloride ( J.C.S ., T., 1910). 
Sublimation of the formamide is without doubt a valuable test for the 
presence of the ergot alkaloids. 
§ 600. Pharmaceutical and other Preparations. —Ergot itself is official 
in all the pharmacopoeias, and occurs in grains from J to 1 inch in 
length, and about the same breadth, triangular, curved, obtuse at the 
ends, of a purple colour, covered with a bloom, and brittle, exhibiting 
a pinkish interior, and the microscopical appearances already detailed. 
Ergot may also occur as a brown powder, possessing the unmistakable 
odour of the drug. 
There is an official extract of ergot and a liquid extract. The first 
is prepared by macerating 1000 grms. of ergot, with 7500 millilitres of 
water, in two portions, using first 5000 for twelve hours, then 2500 for 
a similar period. The whole is strained and pressed ; the liquid is con¬ 
centrated by evaporation to 500 millilitres, 650 millilitres of 90 per cent, 
alcohol added ; the united liquids, after resting three days, are filtered, 
and the filtrate evaporated to a soft extract. The liquid extract is made 
very similarly, but instead of concentrating by evaporation to an extract, 
the final liquid is concentrated to 1000 millilitres. 
The official ammoniated tincture is made by acting on 250 grms. of 
ergot in No. 20 powder, and percolating with 900 millilitres of alcohol 
and 100 millilitres of 60 per cent, alcohol. After pressing the mass, the 
liquid is made up to 1000 millilitres of alcohol, set aside for twenty-four 
hours, and filtered. 
Infusion of ergot is made by infusing 50 grms. of ergot in 1000 milli¬ 
litres of boiling water, allowing it to remain a quarter of an hour, then 
filtering while hot. The infusion is seldom sold, but made as and when 
required. 
All the above preparations, unless standardised by physiological tests, 
are confessedly Uncertain in their action, for the strength of ergot in toxic 
principles varies much. Hence the official preparations are now but little 
used, the following preparations, which can be obtained commercially, 
having taken their place :— 
Ergamine (/3-iminazolyl-ethylamine), made synthetically, 
Tyramine (para-hydroxy-pheny 1-ethylamine), 
Ergotoxine, and 
Ermitin. 
