Amoc0tu,r,l7h8arm' }  Gnoscopina.  49 1 
magnificent  emerald-green  color,  either  immediately  or  after  a  short 
time.  Weaker  solutions  may  require  to  be  gently  heated,  but  the 
mixture  must  not  be  boiled  or  the  reaction  is  destroyed,  suboxide  ol 
copper  being  precipitated. 
Of  a  stronger  solution  of  morphia  salt  one  drop  is  sufficient  to  give 
a  good  reaction  on  a  white  porcelain  surface.  The  test-fluid  should  be 
applied  on  a  slender  glass  rod,  and  stirred  in  as  soon  as  it  is  taken  from 
the  bottle. 
If  the  copper  solution  has  not  been  added  in  sufficient  quantity  the 
color  obtained  will  be  yellowish-green.  Large  excess  of  the  reagent 
destroys  the  reaction,  and  so  does  the  addition  of  a  few  drops  of  liquor 
ammonia. 
Phenol  is  the  only  other  colorless  organic  compound  I  have  met  with 
as  yet  which  affords  a  similar  color-reaction  with  the  test,  but  further 
experience  on  this  point  is  desirable. — Chem.  News,  Aug.  9,  1878. 
Falmouth,  Jamaica,  June  25,  1878, 
GNOSCOPINA. 
By  T.  and  H.  Smith. 
In  the  mother-liquors  from  the  purification  of  narceina  we  have  now 
repeatedly  met  with  a  crystalline  body,  which,  distinguished  at  first 
from  the  principles  more  generally  met  with  in  opium  by  its  melting 
point  and  its  slight  solubility  in  spirit,  was,  upon  closer  examination, 
ascertained  to  be  a  hitherto  unknown  alkaloid,  and  which  we  have 
named  Gnoscopina. 
This  principle  is  characterized  by  forming  readily  crystallizable  salts, 
which  have  an  acid  reaction.  That  its  salts  possess  this  reaction,  as 
also  the  fact  that  gnoscopina  is  quite  insoluble  in  water  and  in  alkalies, 
marks  its  strong  resemblance  to  the  papaverina  group.  Hence,  also,  it 
is  easily  separated  from  narceina,  which  is  moderately  soluble  in  boiling 
water,  and  freely  so  in  alkalies. 
Gnoscopina  when  pure  (after  being  repeatedly  crystallized  from 
boiling  spirit)  forms  long  thin  white  needles,  having  a  woolly  character 
when  dried.  It  is  soluble  in  1,500  parts  of  cold  spirit.  It  melts  at 
233°C,  decomposing,  however,  at  the  same  time,  and  burning  with  a 
smoky  flame,  leaves  a  skeleton  of  charcoal  that  burns  entirely  away  at 
