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ACTIVE  CONSTITUENTS  OF  ERGOT  OF  RYE. 
Ergotates  of  the  alkaloids. 
Phosphate  of  propylamina. 
Chloride  of  potassium. 
"     "  calcium. 
,    On  subjecting  the  solid  extract  of  the  infusion  to  a  destruc- 
tive distillation,  the  first  part  which  passed  over  possessed  an 
acid  reaction  (ergotic  acid),  then  followed  white  dense  vapors  con- 
taining chloride  of  propylamina  and  some  free  ammonia.  The 
vapors  possessed  the  smell  of  burning  flesh.    At  the  moment 
when  thfwvvhite  sublimate  ceased,  the  carbonaceous  residue  pos- 
sessed allprong  acid  reaction,  caused  by  the  acid  phosphate. 
After  strong  ignition  the  acid  reaction  had  disappeared.    On  ex- 
hausting the  residue  with  boiling  water,  the  solution  contained 
phosphate  of  potassa  and  chloride  of  potassium.   That  portion  of 
the  carbonaceous  residue  insoluble  in  water,  was  treated  with  hot 
water  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid ;  analysis  gave  phosphate 
of  magnesia  and  phosphate  of  lime. 
This  last  experiment  was  instituted  for  the  purpose  of  confirm- 
ing the  previous  experiments.  To  take  a  summary  view  of  this 
subject  the  following  resume  may  perhaps  be  necessary  to  render 
it  sufficiently  clear. 
The  constituents  which  I  have  found  in  the  aqueous  infusion 
of  ergot  are,  according  to  my  investigations, 
Ergotate  of  ecbolina. 
"       u  ergotina. 
"       "  potassa. 
Acid  phosphate  of  magnesia. 
Phosphate  of  propylamina. 
Chloride  of  potassium. 
"       "  calcium. 
When  the  extract  is  heated  the  ergotates  of  the  alkaloids  are 
entirely  decomposed.    The  acid  phosphate  of  magnesia,  in  reac- 
ting upon  the  ergotate  of  potassa,  fixes  the  potassa,  setting  the 
ergotic  acid  free,  which  sublimes.    The  phosphate  of  propyla- 
mina and  chloride  of  potassium  interchange  their  elements  with 
the  formation  of  phosphate  of  potassa  and  chloride  of  propyla- 
mina, the  latter  subliming.  On  ignition  the  chloride  of  calcium 
is  decomposed,  the  acid  phosphate  also  fixing  the  lime. 
La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  April  <Wh,  1864. 
