200 
ACTIVE  CONSTITUENTS  OF  EEGOT  OF  RYE. 
was  deposited,  which,  on  ignition,  left  a  percentage  of  platinum 
agreeing  with  that  of  propylamina. 
To  determine  the  existence  or  non-existence  of  a  volatile 
organic  alkaloid,  aside  from  propylamina,  was  next  made  the 
subject  of  investigation.  An  infusion  of  ergot,  made  alkaline 
with  potassa,  was  distilled,  and  the  distillate  received  in  water 
acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid.  The  distillate  gave  no  pre- 
cipitate with  phospho-molybdic  acid  and  bichloride  of  mercury. 
It  possessed  an  odor  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  ergot,  which 
was  not  rendered  more  distinct  by  making  the  liquid  alkaline. 
On  heating,  vapors  of  propylamina  were  given  off.  On  evapo- 
ration, the  residue  consisted  of  discolored  chloride  of  propyla- 
mina. It  is  therefore  certain  the  propylamina  is  the  only 
volatile  base  contained  in  ergot. 
ERGOTIC  ACID. 
A  cold  prepared  aqueous  infusion  of  Ergot  was  strongly  acid- 
ulated with  sulphuric  acid  and  distilled.  The  distillate  was  nearly 
colorless,  possessed  a  strong  pungent  odor  and  a  decided  acid  re- 
action. It  reduced  proto-nitrate  of  mercury  and  nitrate  of  sil- 
ver ;  when  heated,  alcohol  and  sulphuric  acid.  Formic  ether  was 
detected.*  On  heating  gently  the  formic  acid  was  dissipated. 
The  acid  solution  was  not  precipitated  by  acetate  of  lead,  nitrate 
of  silver,  and  chloride  of  barium.  When  neutralized  with  ammo- 
nia, the  reagents  then  readily  formed  precipitates  soluble  in  di- 
lute nitric  acid.  Chloride  of  barium  gave  a  precipitate  which 
dissolved  in  nitric  acid,  with  the  subsequent  formation  of  a  heavy 
granular  precipitate  which,  when  microscopically  examined,  was 
found  to  consist  of  colorless  transparent  hexagonal,  and  triangu- 
lar plates.  This  baryta  salt  is  characterized  by  its  insolubility 
in  concentrated  nitric  and  hydrochloric  acids.  As  the  precipita- 
ted ergotate  of  baryta  is  dissolved  by  hydrochloric  acid  without 
the  formation  of  the  crystalline  baryta  salt,  and  as  nitric  acid 
alone  produces  that  change  with  the  evolution  of  some  gaseous 
body  which  escapes  with  effervescence  (not  nitrous  acid)  during 
the  deposition  of  the  salt,  it  is  possible  that  one  atom  of  hy- 
*To  determine  whether  the  formic  acid  here  obtained  pre-existed,  or  had 
been  obtained  by  decomposition  by  the  means  of  sulphuric  acid,  an  infusion 
of  the  drug  was  distilled  with  tartaric  acid,  but  with  negative  results. 
