284 
Color  Reactions  of  Alkaloids,  etc. 
j  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I      June,  1881, 
their  behavior  to  coDcentrated  sulphuric  acid  and  the  subsequent  effect 
of  oxidizing  agents,  of  which  at  first  a  minute  quantity  of  potassium 
bichromate  was  added,  and  afterwards  a  solution  of  chlorinated  lime. 
The  proximate  ])rinciples  experimented  with  were  of  good  commer- 
cial quality.  The  sulphuric  acid  employed  probably  contained  traces 
of  nitric  acid,  wdiich  appears  to  have  modified  the  color  in  several 
instances.  With  sulphuric  acid,  in  as  pnre  a  state  as  he  could  prepare 
it,  Dragendorff  found  that  morphia  and  cafPeina  remain  colorless  after 
20  hours,  and  even  the  pale  rose  color  obtained  by  him  with  brucia  is 
considered  as  being  most  likely  due  to  a  minute  trace  of  the  impuri- 
ties mentioned.    The  results  obtained  by  jNIr.  Hamlin  are  as  follows  : 
Chlor.  Lime, 
Principle 
Aeon  it  ia, 
Atropia, 
Brucia, 
CafFeiiia, 
Cinehonia, 
Cinehoiiidia, 
Codeina, 
Digitalin, 
Eiiietiiia, 
Gallic  acid, 
Mann  it, 
Morphia, 
Piperina, 
Quiiiia, 
Quinidia, 
8alicin, 
Stryeliiiia, 
Tannin, 
Veratria, 
Yellowish-brown , 
None, 
Pink, 
Cxreen, 
None, 
None, 
None, 
Black-brown, 
Brown, 
None, 
None, 
Light  pink, 
Blood-red, 
None, 
None, 
Blood-red, 
None, 
Gold  eii-3'el  low , 
Deep  red, 
K.Cr^O,. 
Green, 
Dark  green, 
Bright  red, 
Darker, 
Green, 
Green, 
Black, 
Green , 
Green, 
Green , 
Deep  green. 
Dirty  brown. 
Very  dark, 
Green, 
Green, 
Darker, 
Deep  violet. 
Muddy, 
Greenish-yellow 
Fading. 
Light  green. 
No  change. 
Yellow. 
Yellow. 
Fading. 
No  change. 
No  change. 
Disappears. 
Lighter. 
Disap2)ears. 
Disappears. 
Disappears. 
Disappears. 
Disappears. 
Disappears. 
Disap2)ears. 
Maurice  Eobin  has  published  in 
Reddish-brown,  Light  green. 
"  Revue  Scientifique  "  some  obser- 
vations on  the  effect  of  sulphuric  acid  in  the  presence  of  sugar.  After 
mixing  the  compound  with  twice  its  weight  of  cane  sugar  a  small 
quantity  of  the  mixture  is  placed  on  a  porcelain  slab,  one  or  two  drops 
of  pure  sulphuric  acid  are  added,  and  the  mixture  is  stirred  with  a 
glass  rod.  Manipulating  in  this  way,  the  produt^tion  of  colors  was 
observed  to  be  as  follows : 
Atropia  sulphate,  violet,  deepening,  finally  brown. 
Codeina,  cherry-red,  changing  to  violet. 
Morphia  hydrochlorate,  rose,  rapidly  changed  to  violet ;  persistent. 
Narcotina,  mahogany  color,  persistent ;  very  characteristic. 
Quinia  sulphate,  greenish,  bright  yellow,  finally  blackish-coffee 
color,  with  a  yellow  margin. 
Salicin,  bright  red. 
