NEW  TEST  FOR  VEGETABLE  ALKALOIDS.  137 
Determination  of  nicotia  in  tobacco. — Schiel  proposes  in  Ann. 
der  Chem.  and  Pharm.,  xxix.  257,  258,  the  following  apparatus  : 
Two  strong,  narrow-mouthed  bottles  are  connected  by  a  glass 
tube,  reaching  in  one  to  the  bottom,  where  it  is  covered  with 
some  linen  acting  as  a  strainer ;  in  the  other,  just  below  the 
cork.  The  first  bottle  contains  the  cut  tobacco,  which  is  mace- 
rated with  ammoniacal  ether.  The  corks  are  secured  with  string. 
When  sufficiently  macerated,  the  first  bottle  is  immersed  in  warm, 
the  second  in  cold  water,  whereby  the  vapor  of  the  ether  forces 
the  ethereal  solution  of  nicotia  into  the  second  bottle.  By 
changing  the  bottles,  the  ether  distils  back  into  the  first  bottle, 
leaving  nicotia  behind.  This  process  is  repeated  until  the 
tobacco  is  exhausted. 
ON  A  NEW  TEST  FOR  VEGETABLE  ALKALOIDS. 
By  F.  Schulze,  of  Rostock. 
The  acid  mixture,  obtained  by  dropping  pentachloride  of  an- 
timony into  a  solution  of  phosphoric  acid,  yields  precipitates  with 
ammonia  and  most  of  the  alkaloids,  and  may  be  regarded  as  a 
new  and  reliable  test  for  these  organic  compounds.  Most  of  the 
precipitates  are  of  a  whitish  color ;  a  few,  however,  are  decidedly 
colored  and  characteristic  in  this  respect.  A  solution  of  one 
part  of  muriate  of  brucia,  dissolved  in  1000  parts  of  water,  is 
precipitated  by  a  few  drops  of  the  above  test  liquid  with  a 
beautiful  rose  color.  The  precipitate  dissolves  on  heating,  but 
separates  again  on  cooling  more  bulky  than  before,  and  the 
liquid  has  now  an  intense  carmine  color.  Dissolved  in  10,000 
parts  of  water,  brucia  yields  a  little  flesh-colored  precipitate, 
which  increases  in  bulk  after  boiling.  The  coloration  is  of 
great  stability. 
The  author  promises  further  researches  on  the  composition 
and  properties  of  the  precipitates,  and  the  applicability  of  the 
test  for  forensic  analyses.  The  following  embraces  his  observa- 
tions on  the  delicacy  of  the  reagent : — 
Strychnia:  l-1000th  nitrate  of  strychnia,  yellowish-white, 
curdy;  1- 5000th  whitish  flocculent ;  l-25000th  slight  turbidity. 
Quinia:  1-1 000th  flocculent,  somewhat  lighter  than  strychnia; 
l-5000th  opalescent  turbidity. 
