"^"j^iy'^issT™'}   Analytical  Researches  and  Investigations.  359 
therein  in  a  perfectly  free  state,  not  combined,  as  in  the  coffee,  with  an 
organic  acid ;  they  contain  also  an  appreciable  quantity  of  theobro- 
mine, which  increases  the  properties  of  the  caffeine  and  acts  syngeneti- 
cally  with  this  active  principle.  It  is  also  an  important  fact  that  they 
contain  a  notable  quantity  of  glucose,  of  which  cacao  contains  no  trace; 
the  quantity  of  starch  is  also  thrice  that  contained  in  the  seeds  of  theo- 
broma,  which  explains  their  nutritive  value;  the  amount  of  fatty 
matter,  however,  is  very  slight,  compared  with  that  contained  in  the 
cacao.  There  exists  further  a  special  variety  of  tannin,  which  resem- 
bles caffeo-tannic  acid,  and  a  red  coloring  matter  (cola  red)  very  closely 
related  to  that  denominated  by  Pay  en  as  cacao  red.  The  physio- 
logical examination  of  this  seed  has  shown  that  its  unique  action 
depends  upon  the  caffeine  and  theobromine  which  it  contains. — Rep. 
de  Pharm.,  1882,  No.  4,  p.  463. 
On  the  Gloriosa  superba.  By  C.  J.  H.  Warden. — The  roots  of 
Gloriosa  superba,  an  Indian  plant  of  the  natural  order  Liliacese, 
when  collected  before  the  period  of  flowering  possess  a  deep  yellow 
color.  The  author  has  isolated  from  the  aqueous  extract  of  the  root 
a  bitter  principle,  which  is  denominated  superbin.  It  is  obtained  by 
extracting  the  alcoholic  extract  with  water  acidulated  with  acetic  acid, 
neutralizing  the  liquid  by  carbonate  of  sodium,  filtering,  acidulating 
with  sulphuric  acid,  and  precipitating  by  tannin  ;  the  precipitate  treated 
with  lime,  dried,  and  extracted  with  alcohol,  yields  to  the  latter 
the  superbin. 
The  superbin  which,  moreover,  does  not  present  the  characters  of  a 
definite  principle,  is  an  energetic  poison.  The  author  advances  the 
hypothesis  of  its  identity  with  the  poison  of  Scilla  maritima. — Jour, 
de  Phar.  et  de  Chim.,  1882,  p.  523,  from  Ber.  d.  Deutsch.  Ch.  Ges., 
14,  p.  1111. 
On  Conicine  and  its  Compounds.  By  J.  Schorm. — The  author, 
having  had  occasion  to  prepare  considerable  quantities  of  conicine,  has 
made  several  observations  upon  the  preparation,  and  has  succeeded  in 
obtaining  in  a  crystalline  form  a  certain  number  of  salts  of  the  alka- 
loid in  question. 
The  procedure  of  preparation  which  appears  to  be  the  best  is  the  frl- 
lowing :  The  fruits  of  hemlock  are  moistened  with  hot  water,  and, 
after  having  been  allowed  to  swell,  are  treated  with  a  little  carbonate 
of  sodium  ;  the  caustic  alkalies  must  not  be  employed.  For  100  kilo- 
grams of  the  fruit  4  kilograms  of  carbonate  of  sodium  are  employed, 
