Am,ju°iyr;i89h7arm"}       Processes  and  Laboratory  Notes.  351 
If  emulsification  occurs,  add  powdered  magnesium  carbonate  in 
small  quantities  until  separation  takes  place.  Transfer  the  mixed 
chloroform  washings  to  a  tared  flask,  recover  the  solvent  in  the  cus- 
tomary manner,  and  weigh  the  residue,  which  consists  of  fat  and 
alkaloid  together. 
Dissolve  the  fat  with  warm  ether,  using  successive  fractions  of 
20  c.c.,  until  the  ethereal  washings  leave  no  perceptible  residue  upon 
evaporation  of  a  small  quantity.  With  careful  manipulation,  the 
ether  can  be  decanted  each  time  without  loss  of  caffeine ;  but  as  a 
precautionary  measure,  the  ethereal  washings  may  be  filtered,  the 
filter  washed  well,  first  with  ether  and  then  with  chloroform,  trans- 
ferring the  chloroform  washings  back  to  the  flask  for  evaporating 
and  weighing.  The  residue  in  the  flask  is  almost  pure  caffeine,  and 
the  difference  between  the  weights  of  the  first  residue  and  the  last 
is  the  amount  of  fat  present  in  the  drug. 
In  the  case  of  kola,  the  ether  also  removes  the  theobromine, 
which  is  usually  but  a  small  percentage  and  may  be  ignored. 
The  following  comparative  results  have  been  obtained : 
KOI.A  NUTS. 
No.  i,  Exhausted  with  chloroform  in  Soxhlet  1*39  per  cent,  caffeine. 
No.  2,  Exhausted  by  the  foregoing  process  1*37  " 
No.  3,         "  "  "  "        .  .  .  .  .  .  1-48  " 
No.  4,         "  "  "  "   i'43  " 
No.  5,         "  "  "  "   1-40  " 
GUARANA. 
No.  I,  Exhausted  with  chloroform  in  Soxhlet  4^32  per  cent. 
No.  2,  Exhausted  by  the  foregoing  process  4*68  " 
No.  3,         "  "  "  "   4-62  (i 
In  assaying  the  fluid  extracts  of  the  drugs  above  mentioned,  how- 
ever, the  Lloyd  ferric  hydrate  process  gives  the  most  satisfactory 
results. 
ESTIMATION  OF  ALKALOIDS  IN  WHITE  HELLEBORE. 
In  answer  to  query  No.  48  of  the  proceedings  of  this  Association 
for  1896,  the  following  results  are  submitted.  The  well-known  gen- 
eral assay  process  of  Dr.  Keller  was  used  with  satisfactory  results, 
the  details  being  as  follows  :    Place  in  a  dry  flask — 
White  hellebore   .  10  grammes. 
Chloroform  ....   25  " 
Ether  75  <« 
10  per  cent,  ammonia  water  10  " 
