454        ON  THE  ALKALOIDS  IN  THE  GREENHEART-TREE. 
3d.  When  treated  with  strong  sulphuric  acid  and  binoxide  of 
manganese,  a  magnificent  green  color  is  first  developed  ;  this 
slowly  passes  into  a  violet  of  great  beauty,  not  unlike  that  pro- 
duced by  the  action  of  the  same  reagents  on  strychnine. 
4th.  The  new  base  has  a  higher  atomic  weight  than  bebeerina. 
The  mean  of  five  determinations  of  the  platinum  in  the  platinum 
compound  of  this  base  showed  the  percentage  of  platinum  to  be 
17-72.  The  mean  of  four  ultimate  analyses  of  the  alkaloid  gave 
the  following  numbers  : — 
Calculated.  Found. 
Carbon  .  .  .  70-38  70-02 
Hydrogen  .  .  6-74  6-73 
Nitrogen  .  .  .  4-10  4*53 
Oxygen  .    .    .  18-78  18-71 
100-00  100-00 
To  this  new  alkaloid  the  authors  assign  the  formula  C20H23O4- 
N  (C=12),  and  the  name  Nectandra. 
The  difference  between  the  composition  of  bebeerina,  as  as- 
certained by  Yon  Planta,  and  that  of  nectandra,  may  be  seen 
by  comparing  their  formulae, — 
Bebeerina  CJ8H21O3N 
Nectandra  C20H23O4N 
After  separating  nectandra  from  the  mixed  bases  obtained 
from  the  wood,  the  authors  succeeded  in  separating  a  base  which 
is  much  more  soluble  in  hot  and  cold  water,  and  which  is  insolu- 
ble in  chloroform.  It  is  deposited  from  a  boiling  solution  in  the 
form  of  yellow  nodules.  Its  taste  is  both  bitter  and  astringent. 
It  appears  to  have  a  lower  molecular  weight  than  either  bebeerina 
or  nectandra.  The  percentage  of  platinum  in  the  platinum 
compound  was  found  to  be  20-3. 
Besides  this  base  the  authors  have  ascertained  the  existence 
of  a  third,  whose  characters  have,  however,  not  yet  been  care- 
fully determined. 
The  authors  intended  continuing  their  chemical  investigations 
on  these  alkaloids,  and  examining  their  physiological  and  thera- 
peutical action.    They  express  their  great  obligations  to  the 
