DEPOSITS  IN  EXTRACTS  FROM  ACONITE  &  VERATRUM  VIRIDE.  297 
a  paper  of  Prof.  Schroff  in  Zeitung  des  Nord  Deutsclien  Apothe- 
Jcervereins,  of  August  18th,  1863,  where  precisely  the  same 
circumstaDce  was  noticed,  and  at  his  request  I  undertook  the 
examination  of  both  deposits.  They  were  thoroughly  washed 
with  ether-alcohol.  The  crystals  deposited  from  four  fluidounces 
of  the  fluid  extract  of  aconite  (equal  to  four  troy  ounces  of  the 
tubers)  amounted  to  about  forty  grains.  They  retained  a 
brownish  color,  as  I  did  not  discolorize  them  with  charcoal,  to 
avoid  a  loss;  they  had  the  crystalline  structure  and  the  strongly 
sweet  taste  of  rock  candy,  and  gave  no  reaction  with  Fehling's 
solution,  but,  after  being  treated  with  a  little  diluted  sulphuric 
acid,  they  at  once  deposited  suboxyd  of  copper. 
On  incinerating  the  crystals  in  a  platinum  crucible  there  re- 
mained behind  a  noticeable  quantity  of  a  white  ash,  which  proved 
to  be  lime. 
The  watery  solution  of  the  crystals,  slightly  acidulated  with 
dilute  nitric  acid,  on  the  addition  of  acetate  of  lead  gave  a  very 
faint  indication  of  a  precipitate  too  small  for  examination.  The 
latter  reaction  may  be  ascribed  to  the  presence  of  coloring  mat- 
ter and  not  to  aconitic  acid. 
The  crystals  recovered  from  the  concentrated  tincture  of  Vera- 
trum  viride  (of  which  four  fluidounces  also  correspond  with  four 
troy  ounces  of  the  root)  amounted  to  about  the  same  quantity 
as  those  of  the  tincture  of  aconite  ;  they  were  colorless,  but  pre- 
sented the  same  appearance  and  taste ;  they  gave  the  same  re- 
action with  the  solution  of  copper,  and  on  calcination  likewise 
gave  a  pure  white  ash  consisting  of  lime.  The  watery  solution 
of  the  crystals,  when  acted  upon  by  acetate  of  lead,  also  showed 
an  indication  of  a  precipitate. 
The  deposits  formed  in  this  manner  may  therefore  be  assumed 
to  be  crystallized  cane-sugar,  with  probably  a  small  quantity  of 
a  compound  of  sugar  with  lime,  which  is  of  difficult  solubility  in 
alcohol. 
The  concentrated  tincture  of  Veratrum  viride,  freed  from  al- 
cohol, also  reduced  the  copper  solution  without  previous  treat- 
ment with  acid. 
By  the  advice  of  Prof.  Mayer  I  also  examined  some  finely- 
