THE  ESTIMATION  OF  STRYCHNINE  IN'  NU 
BY  THE  NITRIC  ACID  PROCESS: 
JOURNAL  OF  PHA 
THE  AMERICAN 
JANUARY,  I9<f&^ 
By  m.  H.  Webster  and  R.  C.  Purser. 
Since  Gerock  first  isolated  strychnine  from  the  total  alkaloids  of 
nux  vomica  by  nitrating  the  brucine,  numerous  methods  have  been 
suggested  whereby  the  alkaloidal  nature  of  the  brucine  may  be 
totally  destroyed  without  affecting  the  strychnine.  Divergent 
opinions  on  the  accuracy  of  the  various  processes  have  been  ex- 
pressed and  much  controversy  has  ensued. 
The  adoption  in  the  U.S. P.  1900  of  Gordin's  modification  of  the 
Keller  process  has  but  served  to  stimulate  such  discussion  until 
there  is  at  present  no  more  interesting  and,  in  view  of  the  strict 
rulings  of  the  Food  and  Drug  Commission,  no  more  important 
question  before  the  pharmaceutical  chemist  than  the  determination 
of  strychnine  in  nux  vomica. 
In  Gerock's  1  process  the  total  alkaloids  are  converted  into  pic- 
rates  and  treated  with  dilute  nitric  acid.  This  destroys  the  brucine 
picrate,  leaving  unaltered  the  strychnine  salt  which  is  collected  and 
weighed. 
Nagelvoort2  has  found  a  modification  of  this  process  to  give  satis- 
factory results  at  low  temperatures. 
Keller3  discards  the  preliminary  conversion  of  the  alkaloids  into 
picrates,  I  c.c.  of  nitric  acid  (1.42)  is  added  to  a  solution  of  (approxi- 
mately) 0-3  gramme  of  total  alkaloids  in  10  c.c.  H2S04  10  per  cent; 
1  Arch.  d.  Phar.,  1889,  p.  159. 
2  Proc.  A.  Ph.  A.,  1893,  P-  165. 
3  Zeit  Oest.  Apoth.-Ver.,  1893,  587. 
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