Chemical Examination of the Digitalis, fyc. 221 
our researches. It may perhaps induce a severe scrutiny as 
to their truth, which cannot fail of eliciting truth. 
According to M. Brandes, hyoscyamine . is obtained by 
precipitating decoctions of the plant by an alkali, drying and 
treating the precipitate with alcohol. By evaporating this 
alcohol, prismatic crystals are obtained, susceptible of com- 
bining with nitric and sulphuric acids, and forming salts. 
We have repeated this procedure four times with the great- 
est care, and have always obtained a white powder which 
attracted moisture from the air. This powder was composed 
of acetates, phosphates, sulphates and hychochlorates of 
potash, lime and magnesia. Before treating this powder with 
the reagents which established the presence of these salts, we 
subjected it to the action of concentrated sulphuric acid at a 
high temperature, and were convinced that it was of a mine- 
ral nature. This operation was performed with both the seeds 
and the leaves of the hyoscyamus, with the same results. 
If instead of limiting themselves to giving the physical cha- 
racters of a new substance, chemists would analyze and care- 
fully study it, these errors would not be committed. In 1824, 
M. Payen made a detailed report to the Society of Phar- 
macy on a memoir by M. Runge, on the modes of discovering 
the slightest traces of the active principles of belladonna, 
hyoscyamus and datura, in cases of poisoning with these 
substances. We shall notice only the method which this latter 
chemist has proposed for isolating the active principle of 
hyoscyamus. 
This is as follows : an alcoholic tincture is prepared with 
the roots or dried leaves or the watery extract of hyoscya- 
mus ; this is evaporated to dryness, and the residuum dissolved 
in water. The resin is precipitated, and the hyoscyamine re- 
mains in the water in combination with an acid. This solu- 
tion is treated with acetate of lead and hydro-sulphuric acid, 
and the acetate of hyoscyamine decomposed by ammonia. 
On evaporation a white powder is obtained, which is very 
slightly soluble in water and oil, more so in alcohol. Accord- 
ing to M. Runge this principle neutralizes acids, and forms 
crystallizable salts. 
