OXYGEN ON ORGANIC BASES. 
199 
ether. Its aqueous solution, when it is boiled in order to 
evaporate it to dryness, is decomposed, depositing a black 
powder, insoluble in alcohol and ether. 
Potassa and ammonia decolor the aqueous solution of 
this substance, which from red passes to a dirty yellow, but 
without causing it to undergo any modifications, as is the 
case with cinchonetine. for the original color may always 
be restored by saturating the alkali with sulphuric acid. 
Modified quinetine dissolves in concentrated nitric and sul- 
phuric acids, communicating to them its color. 
Quinetine. 
By the spontaneous evaporation of its alcoholic solution, 
this substance may be obtained in great part crystallized. 
It is insoluble in water, but it dissolves very well in alco- 
hol, ether, and water acidulated with sulphuric acid. It 
communicates to the first two solvents a violet color, and 
to the last a red color. Although this substance is insoluble 
in water, its alcoholic solution is not rendered turbid when 
diluted with this liquid. 
Potassa and caustic ammonia act with it in the same 
manner as with modified quinetine. 
The concentrated acids dissolve quinetine, acquiring a 
red color. It is probable that it then passes to the state of 
modified quinetine. 
By successive solutions and evaporations, quinetine may 
be rendered soluble in water, and then it appears to present 
all the characters of modified quinetine. 
PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM MORPHIA. 
Morphetine is the product of the oxidation of this base, 
when it is submitted to the above-mentioned influences. It 
is a brown, amorphous substance, possessed of a feeble, 
bitter taste ; sparingly soluble in alcohol at 90° C, which 
it colors yellow ; very soluble, on the contrary, in distilled 
water, to which it communicates, at the same time, a yel- 
