454 
Alkaloids  of  Coca  Leaves. 
Am.  Jour.  Phaxm. 
Sept.,  1887. 
gives  a  platinum  salt  which  is  decomposed  by  heating  the  liquid. 
The  base  I  obtained  gives  no  crystallizable  hydrochlorate.  The  smell 
does  not  remind  one  of  trimethylamine.  It  has  an  intensely  bitter 
taste,  and  the  platinum  salt  stands  hot  water  well.  It  seems,  there- 
fore, probable  that  either  Lossen's  base  was  impure,  or  that  mine  is  a 
different  base  altogether.    He  unfortunately  also  gives  no  analysis. 
The  platinum  salt,  which  is  darker  in  color,  and  much  less  bulky 
than  the  soluble  salt,  differs  in  composition,  as  shown  by  the  following 
analysis  : — 
I.  0*1488  gram  gave  0*0275  gram  platinum. 
II.  0*1894  gram  gave  0*0353  gram  platinum. 
I.  II. 
Pt.  18*48  per  cent  18*6  per  cent. 
The  base  was,  as  above  mentioned,  extremely  bitter,  and  is  probably 
a  body  containing  three  atoms  of  carbon  more  than  cocaine ;  it  pro- 
duces no  numbing  effect  on  the  tongue. 
Amorphous  cocaine  has,  therefore,  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  no  exist- 
ence, but  is  a  solution  of  cocaine  in  the  base  above  described.  I  hope 
to  continue  my  research  on  this  alkaloid  if  I  can  obtain  enough 
material,  as  it  is  only  contained  or  formed  in  small  quantities. — Phcu\ 
Jour,  and  Trans.,  July  23,  1887,  p.  71. 
THE  ALKALOIDS  OF  COCA  LEAVES.1 
By  O.  Hesse. 
According  to  the  observations  I  have  made  in  reference  to  this  sub- 
ject, I  have  not  become  acquainted  with  anything  to  support  the 
opinion  put  forward  by  Stockman,  that  amorphous  cocaine  is  a  solu- 
tion of  true  cocaine  in  hygrine,  although  the  amorphous  base  may 
contain  some  hygrine  as  the  result  of  decomposition  of  some  one  or 
other  coca  base,  and  though  hygrine  may  be  separated  from  it  by 
continued  distillation  with  water,  owing  to  its  gradual  formation,  until 
the  whole  of  the  amorphous  base  is  decomposed.  Since  the  dilute 
solution  of  hygrine  in  hydrochloric  acid  has  a  strong  blue  fluorescence, 
this  character  furnishes  a  means  of  ascertaining  whether  or  not  hygrine 
is  present  in  coca  leaves.  For  this  purpose  it  is  only  requisite  to 
moisten  the  finely-divided  leaves  with  ammonia,  and  shake  with  ether, 
1  From  the  Pharmaceutisclie  Zeitung,  July  16.  Reprinted  from  Phar.  Jour,  and 
Trans.,  July  23, 1887. 
