ON THE PREPARATION OF ATROPINE. 
159 
Use — One pill to be given every two hours at the commence- 
ment of an attack of migraine, (or pain in the forehead,) or every 
hour when the suffering is acute. 
Syrup of Citrate of Caffein. 
Take of Citrate of Caffein, 2J drachms. 
Simple Syrup, 4 ounces. 
Dissolve the salt in the syrup. 
This syrup is given in tablespoonful doses every hour or two 
hours, according to the violence of the attack. 
M. Hannon gives receipts for lozenges, ointment and clysters 
of citrate of caffein. — Jour, de Pharm. Aout. 1850. 
ON THE PREPARATION OF ATROPINE. 
By M. Rebourdain. 
In a memoir published by MM. Bouchardat and Stuart Cooper in 
the "Annuaire de Therapeutique" for 1849, these chemists describe 
a process for the preparation of atropine, which yields it in a very 
pure state, but in extremely small quantity. They observe, that the 
preparation of atropine cannot be so easy as stated by the authors 
who have made us acquainted with this vegetable alkaloid, since we 
know several chemists in France who have tried to prepare it with- 
out success ; that which is met with in commerce is derived from 
Germanv. 
The following process, which enables us to obtain it in a simple, 
quick and easy manner, may therefore prove of some service. Fresh 
belladona, collected when just about to flower, after having been 
well pounded in a marble mortar, is submitted to pressure to extract 
the juice : this is then heated to 176°-194° F. in order to coagulate 
the albumen, and filtered. When the juice thus clarified is cold, 4 
grammes of caustic potash and 30 grammes of chloroform to the 
quart are added to it: the whole is then agitated for a minute, and set 
aside. In the course of half an hour, the chloroform charged with the 
atropine, and having the appearance of a greenish oil, has subsided; 
the supernatant liquid is decanted and replaced by a little water ; 
this is then decanted, and the washing continued until the decanted 
water is perfectly clear. The chloroform solution is then poured 
