128 
ON BELLADONINE, 
the throat, which disappeared when he had dined. This alka- 
loid dissolves entirely in water, and then possesses an alkaline 
reaction, which does not disappear on the application of heat 
like ammonia; it neutralises acids, and forms a series of salts. 
The analysis of this substance, by means of the apparatus of 
Mittscherlich, yields carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen 
in proportions not yet determined. 
Lowig considers this base as formed of two compound bo- 
dies, because it is decomposed by nitric acid, with frothing, 
caused by the disengagement of carbonic acid. In every ex- 
periment to which it was submitted, it appeared to contain 
nitric acid. If this substance is heated, it fuses, with disen- 
gagement of ammonia and nitrogen, and there remains a white 
residue, which volatilises with difficulty in yellow crystals, 
and gives out an odor like that of cyanogen; by trituration 
with hydrate of lime, there is no disengagement of ammonia. 
Hydrochloric acid exercises a like reaction, which gives rise 
to another yellow substance, crystallisable in rhomboids, with 
an acid taste, and burning luminously when fusion is at- 
tempted in a glass tube; a solution of nitrate of silver does 
not produce any precipitate in this singular compound. 
Neither lime or potassa develope ammonia; and the strong 
odor of this gas is not perceived when it is fused with caustic 
potassa. J. de F. 
Journ. de Pharm. 
