ON  VERATRUM  VIRIDE. 
after  removing  it  from  the  precipitate,  showed  it  to  be  almost 
entirely  free  from  organic  salts  ;  the  precipitate  contained  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  alkaloids  with  the  lime  salts.  This  phenomena 
I  hare  not  seen  noticed  in  the  books,  and  may  prove  important 
in  investigations  for  vegetable  principles.] 
The  solution  of  the  sulphates  was  again  precipitated  with  car- 
bonate of  soda,  the  precipitate  washed  to  remove  the  excess  of 
alkaline  carbonates,  and  dried  on  a  water  bath  at  a  moderate 
heat.  The  product  thus  obtained  represented  the  basic  prin- 
ciples of  veratrum  viride  mixed  with  some  lime  salts.  To  effect 
a  farther  purification,  the  product  was  reduced  to  powder  and 
agitated  with  successive  portions  of  ether  free  from  alcohol. 
The  ether  left  on  evaporation  a  light  yellow  residue,  weighing 
9*2  grains  ;  it  had  no  disposition  to  assume  a  crystalline  form, 
and  detached  itself  from  the  glass  capsule  in  scales  resembling 
tannin. 
The  portion  insoluble  in  ether  was  then  treated  with  alcohol 
of  95  per  cent.  The  product  from  the  alcohol  weighed  15*7 
grains ;  it  was  semi-resinous  in  character,  and  of  a  light  buff 
color. 
Both  products  still  retaining  some  color,  a  portion  of  each  was 
dissolved  separately  in  alcohol,  and  digested  with  animal  char- 
coal, this  treatment  failing  to  decolorize  them  ;  the  alcohol  was 
evaporated  and  the  residue  dissolved  in  acidulated  water,  filtered, 
a  small  amount  of  alcohol  added,  and  precipitation  effected  by 
very  dilute  ammonia.  Both  precipitates,  (which  were  now  color- 
less), were  collected  on  paper,  well  washed,  and  dried.  The 
product  soluble  in  ether  dried  to  a  soft  pulverulent  condition ; 
the  other  assumed  a  hard  semi-resinous  form,  adhering  to  the 
filter. 
Examination  of  the  products. — The  alcoholic  solutions  of  both 
principles  restored  the  color  of  reddened  litmus  paper.  They 
are  slightly  bitter  to  the  taste,  and  dissolve  freely  in  dilute 
sulphuric,  nitric,  hydrochloric  and  acetic  acids.  The  product 
soluble  in  ether  is  powerfully  sternutatory,  the  other  much  less 
so.*    An  alcoholic  solution  of  the  two  principles  dropped  on 
*  Half  a  grain  of  powdered  opium,  used  as  a  snuff,  quiets  in  a  few  min- 
utes the  excessive  irritation  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nose- 
