204 
JIarrubii)i  and  its  Dichlorine  Derivative.  [ 
Am.  Jour.  Pbarrn. 
April,  1S97. 
test  for  sugar,  nor  to  the  alkaloidal  group-reagents,  and  from  its 
alcoholic  solution  is  not  precipitated  by  lead  subacetate.  It  crystal- 
lizes best  from  cold  alcohol. 
A  menstruum  prepared  from  2  parts  of  alcohol  and  I  part  of 
water,  with  5  per  cent,  of  glycerin,  yielded  a  fluid  extract  remain- 
ing free  from  crystalline  deposit. 
The  investigation  of  marrubiin  was  next  taken  up  by  Morrison, 
who  published  his  results  in  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy, 
July,  1890.  Morrison  obtained  the  marrubiin  by  extracting  the 
herb  with  ether,  and  purified  it  by  repeated  crystallization  from  hot 
95  per  cent,  alcohol,  and  subsequent  treatment  with  animal  char- 
coal.   Morrison  describes  the  properties  of  marrubiin  as  follows : 
The  crystals  were  insoluble  in  water  and  in  solution  of  potassium 
hydrate,  very  sparingly  soluble  in  boiling  water  and  in  cold  alcohol. 
It  is  soluble  in  hot  95  per  cent,  alcohol,  also  in  ether  and  chloro- 
form. The  crystals  melt  at  I52°-I53°  C.  They  were  at  first  taste- 
less, but  developed,  when  held  on  the  tongue,  a  decided  bitterness. 
The  alcoholic  solution  was  very  bitter.  Sulphuric  or  nitric  acid 
gave  a  dark  brown  color ;  hydrochloric  acid  produced  no  change, 
and  ferric  chloride  produced  no  change.  This  principle  reduced 
Fehling's  solution  by  boiling  in  a  water-bath,  without  first  heating 
with  an  acid.  On  boiling  it  first  with  acidulated  water,  a  peculiar 
aromatic  odor  was  developed ;  then  on  heating  with  Fehling's  solu- 
tion, an  abundant  precipitate  of  cuprous  oxide  was  produced,  thus 
showing  it  to  be  an  easily  decomposable  glucoside. 
The  average  of  two  combustions  was  : 
The  melting  point  of  the  marrubiin,  obtained  by  Hertel,  was  also 
determined  by  Morrison  and  found  to  be  r 53'5°-i 54*5°  C.  Morrison 
remarks  that  this  marrubiin  was  evidently  nearly  pure,  and  states 
that  the  average  01  three  combustions  made  by  him  was : 
Found. 
Per  Cent. 
Calculated  for 
(C^HjgOg.) 
Per  Cent. 
C 
H 
O 
70*25 
842 
2i'33 
70-38 
8-50 
2I'I2 
c 
Per  Cent. 
70-54 
