ON QUINIDTNE. 265 
forms the same light fibrous crystallization, and occupies as large 
a bulk. It corresponds in appearance with the description given 
by Winckler, of " chinidine." (See Pharm. Journ. for April, 
1845, vol. iv. p. 468.) He notices that it has " a remarkably 
white color and a peculiarly faint lustre." Its most striking 
characteristic is its extreme solubility. Pure sulphate of quinine 
requires nearly thirty times it weight of boiling water for solution, 
whilst the sulphate of quinidine dissolves in four parts. On the 
other hand the pure alkaloid crystallizes readily out of proof spirit 
and out of ether, whilst quinine does not crystallize out of either. 
A very good test for the presence of cinchonine in sulphate of 
quinine is also capable of being applied to detect the presence of j3 
quinine. On this point I would refer for very interesting details 
to a paper by M. Guibourt, in the Journal de Pharmacie for 
January in this year. 
In your Journal for April, 1843, I gave a test for sulphate of 
quinine, to which I would again advert, because subsequent experi- 
ence has proved it to be a tolerably easy, and at the same time 
exact means of ascertaining its purity. Put 100 grains in a Flor- 
ence flask with five ounces of distilled water, beat this to brisk 
ebullition ; the sulphate of quinine ought not to be entirely dis- 
solved ; add two ounces more water, and again heat it to ebulli- 
tion ; ought to make a perfectly clear solution. If this be allowed 
to cool for six hours, and the crystals carefully dried in the open 
air on blotting paper, they will be found to weigh about ninety 
grains, the mother-liquor may be evaporated and tested with ether, 
when any cinchonine or j3 quinine will be easily detected. On ex- 
amining sulphate of quinine of commerce from several leading 
manufacturers, I have found all of them give, within a grain or 
two, the same result, and, in each, indications of j3 quinine, though 
to an unimportant extent. 
The above quantity of water (seven ounces) readily dissolves 
800 grains of sulphate of j3 quinine ; and if 100 grains of this salt 
are dissolved in seven ounces of water, the crystals dried as above 
weigh only fifty-four grains, thus leaving forty-six grains in solu- 
tion instead of about ten grains. 
The medicinal effects of j3 quinine deserve investigation, the 
chemical constitution and the taste appear to indicate a great simi- 
larity if not identity. — Lond. Pharm. Journ., May, 1852. 
