528 
ATROPIA  FROM  AMERICAN  BELLADONNA. 
of  diluted  sulphuric  acid,  which  was  not  sufficient  to  saturate 
the  atropia,  and  ten  drops  more  were  added,  the  liquid  filtered 
to  separate  the  insoluble  matter,  and  liquor  ammonia  dropped 
in  till  it  ceased  to  produce  a  precipitate.  The  latter  was  a  bulky 
hydrate  of  a  light  color  ;  its  exact  quantity  was  not  ascertained, 
but  probably  amounted  to  10  grains. 
The  ethereal  washings  of  the  first  liquid  on  evaporation  yielded 
a  fixed  oil,  of  a  greenish  brown  color,  which  was  partially  crystal- 
line ;  and  also  a  small  portion  of  resinous  matter.  These  were 
set  aside. 
In  reviewing  the  last  experiment,  the  disadvantage  of  treating 
the  crude  liquid  with  chloroform  before  the  separation  of  the  oily 
matter  was  quite  apparent,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  fact  that 
sulphate  of  atropia  is  insoluble  in  chloroform,  I  determined  to 
modify  the  process  by  substituting  chloroform  for  ether,  as  a 
means  of  removing  the  fixed  oil,  &c,  which  greatly  facilitates 
the  process,  and  affords  the  best  and  easiest  method  of  obtain- 
ing this  alkaloid  that  has  been  offered,  which  is  as  follows : 
Take  of  Belladonna  root,  in  fine  powder,  10,000  grains. 
Lime'  480  grains, 
Diluted  sulphuric  acid, 
Chloroform, 
Alcohol,  each  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Moisten  the  powder  with  half  a  pint  of  alcohol,  pack  it  firmly 
in  a  glass  funnel,  and  pour  on  alcohol  until  a  gallon  of  liquid  has 
slowly  passed.  The  lime  having  been  slaked  to  powder  by  the 
addition  of  water,  is  added  to  the  liquor  and  shaken  at  intervals 
for  24  hours.  The  alkaline  reaction  of  the  liquid  is  now  re- 
moved by  adding  diluted  sulphuric  acid  in  slight  excess,  then  fil- 
tered, and  evaporated  to  three  fluid  ounces.  After  the  evapora- 
tion the  fixed  oil  separates  on  the  surface  as  a  crystalline  stra- 
tum. The  syrupy  liquid  was  mixed  with  four  ounces  of  water, 
thrown  on  a  wetted  filter,  and  sufficient  water  added  afterwards 
to  make  the  filtrate  measure  half  a  pint.  This  liquid,  which  had 
an  amber  color,  a  strong,  disagreeable  odor,  and  bitter  acid  taste, 
was  agitated  thoroughly  with  a  fluid  ounce  of  chloroform,  and  the 
latter  decanted.  A  fluid  ounce  and  a  half  of  chloroform  was  again 
added,  followed  by  repeated  portions  of  liquor  potassse  of  half  a 
fluid  ounce  each,  agitating  well  after  each  addition  until  the 
