ATROPIA  FROM  AMERICAN  BELLADONNA. 
527 
The  alcoholic  liquids  were  now  mixed  together,  and  one-fourth 
set  aside.  To  the  remainder,  360  grains  of  lime,  previously 
hydrated  and  in  powder,  was  added,  and  the  vessel  frequently 
shaken  during  twelve  hours.  The  tincture  from  being  light  col- 
ored, became  of  a  brown  hue ;  it  was  filtered  from  the  precipi- 
tate and  excess  of  lime,  and  diluted  sulphuric  acid  carefully 
dropped  in,  with  agitation,  until  the  liquid  had  a  slight  acid  re- 
action. The  precipitate  of  sulphate  of  lime  and  coloring  matter, 
was  separated  by  filtration,  the  alcohol  distilled  off  by  aid  of  a 
water  bath  heat,  and  the  syrupy  residue  treated  with  ether  to 
remove  the  fixed  oil  and  resinous  matter  that  it  contained.  The 
liquid  separated  from  the  ether  was  gently  heated,  to  remove 
traces  of  that  substance,  and  then  half  an  ounce  of  carbonate  of 
potassa,  mixed  with  two  fluid  ounces  of  water,  was  added,  shaken, 
allowed  to  stand  for  24  hours,  and  filtered  to  separate  the  pre- 
cipitate. This  was  washed  with  a  little  cold  water,  dried,  and 
weighed  only  three  grains.  It  appeared  quite  evident  that 
either  atropia  existed  in  but  small  quantity,  or  that  the  precipi- 
tant used  was  not  a  proper  one.  Thus  far,  except  in  the 
ethereal  treatment,  the  process  is  that  of  Mein. 
Assuming  that  the  atropia  was  yet  held  in  solution,  the  liquid 
was  mixed  with  three  ounces  of  chloroform,  and  then  solution  of 
potassa  added  gradually,  with  frequent  agitation,  until,  on  rest- 
ing, the  aqueous  supernatant  liquid  was  decidedly  alkaline,  and 
of  a  dark,  almost  black  color.  The  chloroform  was  now  decant- 
ed, and  by  spontaneous  evaporation  yielded  24  grains  of  a  fawn- 
colored  crystalline  matter,  having  an  alkaline  reaction,  which 
in  fact  was  atropia  with  coloring  matter. 
Believing  that  chloroform  was  the  best  agent  for  isolating  the 
atropia,  the  remaining  fourth  of  the  original  liquid  was  evapora- 
ted to  three  fluid  ounces,  diluted  with  its  bulk  of  water,  and  fil- 
tered to  separate  oily  and  resinous  matter.  Half  a  fluid  ounce 
of  chloroform,  followed  by  the  same  bulk  of  liquor  potassse,  was 
added  and  well  shaken  for  several  minutes,  and  the  chloroform 
decanted  and  allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneously.  The  pro- 
duct was  a  greenish,  amorphous,  wax-like  matter,  possessing  an 
alkaline  reaction  and  weighing  18  grains.  This  consisted  of 
atropia  and  oleo-resinous  matter  extracted  by  the  chloroform. 
It  was  treated  with  half  an  ounce  of  water  containing  20  drops 
