AmApxn,  S7arm'}    Estimation  of  Alkaloids  in  Extracts.  183 
considerable  discrepancy  in  the  figures  attained  by  titration  is  notice- 
able. The  question  arises  if  by  drying  the  alkaloid  there  is  a  decom- 
position, or  if  the  dried  alkaloid  is  not  so  readily  affected  by  the  acid. 
Solutions  No.  23  and  No.  24  were  allowed  to  stand  1  day  and  again 
examined.  The  solutions  were  neutral  just  as  on  the  previous  day ;  if 
it  were  due  to  difficult  solubility  they  should  have  reacted  alkaline 
and  required  the  addition  of  more  acid.  A  decomposition,  it  must  be 
inferred,  takes  place.  Experiments  No.  20  and  No.  21  show  in  weighed 
(crude)  and  titrated  (pure)  alkaloid  a  ratio  of  100  :  88. 
25)  To  determine  whether  ether  is  quick  or  slow  to  dissolve  out  the 
alkaloid,  2.0  extr.  of  belladonna  were  dissolved  in  3*0  water  and  mixed 
with  10*0  lime.  The  powder  was  displaced  with  5  portions  of  ether. 
Each  portion  was  collected  and  examined  separately  with  the  following 
results : 
1  0*968  per  cent.       Total  1-169  per  cent,  of  alkaloid. 
II  0-072 
III  0072 
IV  0057 
V  traces 
Hence  it  must  be  concluded  that  ether  answers  for  completely  ex- 
tracting the  alkaloid. 
26)  2  gm.  extr.  belladonna  dissolved  in  3*0  water,  added  0*040  atro- 
pine and  10*0  lime,  extracted  with  ether  and  carefully  evaporated  to 
about  1  cc,  added  a  few  drops  of  alcohol  and  10  cc.  of  water.  It  re- 
quired for  titration  21^7  cc.  100th  normal  acid.  After  deducting  13*6 
cc.  for  the  0*04  atropine  added,  the  remaining  8'1  cc.  indicate  1*170 
per  cent,  of  alkaloid.  The  result  thus  obtained  must  be  considered 
satisfactory  and  shows  that  lime  does  not  decompose  the  alkaloid. 
27)  0*024  grams  of  atropine  dissolved  in  3cc.  of  water,  added  10*0  pow- 
dered lime,  exhausted  with  ether,  evaporated  and  dissolved  the  residue 
in  a  few  drops  of  alcohol  and  10  cc.  of  water;  required  for  neutral- 
ization 8*1  cc.  100th  normal  acid  corresponding  to  0*0234  atropine. 
The  loss  sustained  is  very  small  and  proves  beyond  doubt  that  dis- 
placement is  preferable  to  shaking. 
So  far  the  experiments  were  made  only  with  extract  of  belladonna, 
and  although  good  results  were  obtained,  it  was  concluded  to  examine 
the  extracts  of  aconite,  conium  and  hyoscyamus,  and  to  use — ^st/yf 
the  ordinary  method  with  lime  ;  2dly,  with  lime  and  fractional  dis- 
placement, and  Sdly,  the  ammonia  process.  The  following  shows  the 
yield  in  alkaloids : 
