324 
ON  VERATRUM  VIRIDE. 
glass  sides  and  examined  under  the  microscope  showed  no  dispo- 
sition to  crystallize,  but  dried  to  an  amorphous  powder.  Both 
are  soluble  in  alcohol,  amylic  alcohol  and  chloroform.  Neither 
of  them,  after  drying,  dissolve  in  benzole.  [Mr.  J.  G.  Richard- 
son found  the  product  soluble  in  ether  to  dissolve  in  benzole  im- 
mediately after  separation  from  its  acid  combination,  a  property 
which  characterizes  other  alkaloids — as,  for  instance,  morphia 
and  strychnia,  in  Sta's  method  for  the  detection  of  the  poison- 
ous alkaloids,  where  ether  is  used  as  the  solvent.] 
Alkalies  and  Alkaline  Carbonates  precipitate  both  alkaloids 
from  their  solutions  ;  the  precipitate  is  insoluble  in  an  excess  of 
the  precipitant. 
The  precipitates  are  flocculent  and,  when  examined  from  time 
to  time  during  twenty-four  hours  under  an  8-10th  object  glass, 
showed  no  disposition  to  assume  a  crystalline  form. 
Bicarbonate  of  Soda — does  not  precipitate  a  slightly  acid  so- 
lution, even  when  added  to  distinct  alkaline  reaction.  Heating 
determines  the  precipitation. 
Sulphocyanide  of  Potassium — no  precipitate  in  dilute  solu- 
tions of  either  principle. 
Perchloride  of  Gold — a  precipitate  with  both. 
Iodohydrargyrate  of  Potassium — a  copious  white  precipitate 
in  both  solutions. 
When  treated  with  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  both  alkaloids 
give  nearly  the  same  reaction,  viz.,  dissolving  to  a  reddish  yellow 
color,  which  changes  to  ochry  red,  then  to  reddish  brown,  and 
finally  becoming  brown.  [Veratria  changes  from  light  yellow  to 
bright  blood  red,  then  crimson,  which  latter  color  lasts  for  some 
hours.] 
The  solutions  of  the  alkaloids  in  sulphuric  acid,  treated  ac- 
cording to  Erdmann's  method  of  color  testing, — with  sulphuric 
acid  containing  a  trace  of  nitric  acid,  and  afterwards  adding  a 
fragment  of  binoxide  of  manganese, — comported  themselves 
differently  from  veratria :  varying  but  little  from  the  action  of 
sulphuric  acid  alone. 
In  Nitric  Acid — both  dissolved  to  colorless  solutions,  showing 
after  a  few  minutes  a  faint  and  evanescent  rose  tinge.  This  re- 
action was  not,  however,  very  decided. 
