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A  VOLATILE  ALKALOID  IN  DIGITALIS  PURPUREA. 
Sulphocyanide  of  potassium  is  prepared  in  the  same  manner 
from  one  part  desiccated  ferrocyanide  of  potassium  and  3  parts 
anhydrous  hyposulphite  of  potassa. — Poggend.  Arinal,  1863, 
Juli,  317.    Ohem.  Centralbl,  1863,  698.  J.  M,  M. 
THE  ABSORBENT  POWER  OF  STARCH  FOR  THE 
COAL-TAR  COLORS. 
By  W.  J.  Young. 
By  adding  wheaten  starch  to  a  dilute,  cold,  aqueous  solution 
of  mauve,  magenta,  azuline,  &c,  the  coloring  matter  is  absorbed, 
and  the  supernatent  liquor  rendered  nearly  colorless,  when  left 
in  contact  for  a  few  hours,  with  occasional  agitation  to  ensure 
an  equal  absorption  of  the  coloring  matter  by  the  starch. 
In  the  case  of  azuline,  a  moderately  strong  solution  was  pre- 
pared, and  treated  with  starch  as  above  ;  every  trace  of  blue 
was  absorbed,  and  the  supernatent  liquor  had  a  reddish  tinge, 
due  to  the  red  coloring  matter  which  generally  accompanies  so- 
lutions of  azuline.  When  a  more  dilute  solution  of  azuline  was 
used,  every  trace  of  color  was  absorbed,  and  the  liquor  on  fil- 
tration was  clear  and  perfectly  colorless. 
The  most  of  the  coloring  matter  may  be  removed  from  the 
starch  again  by  solution  in  alcohol. 
By  this  process  almost  every  variety  of  color  may  be  procured 
— yellow,  pink,  various  shades  of  red,  blue,  mauve,  &c. — Lond, 
Chem.  News,  Jan.  23, 1863. 
A  VOLATILE  ALKALOID  IN  DIGITALIS  PURPUREA. 
By  treating  the  fresh  leaves  of  foxglove  in  the  same  manner 
by  which  conia  is  extracted  from  hemlock,  they  yield  a  volatile 
alkaloid,  which  the  discoverer,  W.  Englehardt  (Zeitschrift  fur 
Chemie  u.  Pharm.  1862,  December,  p.  722)  has  named  Digital- 
ium  fluidum,  and  which  from  the  experiments  made  with  it  on 
animals  appears  to  be  the  real  bearer  of  the  physiological  action 
of  this  plant. 
This  alkaloid  is  exceedingly  volatile,  of  an  oily  consistence, 
an  alkaline  reaction,  difficultly  soluble  in  water,  readily  so  in 
alcohol,  little  soluble  in  chloroform,  and  soluble  in  absolute 
ether.  Its  odor  is  very  penetrating,  intermediate  between  that 
of  conia  and  nicotina :  when  diluted  it  is  not  so  unpleasant, 
(Neues  Jahrb.  f.  Pharm.  Januar,  1863.  xix.  p.  29.)      F.  F.  M. 
