Am.  JotJR.  Phakm.  ( 
Dec.  1,  1872.  | 
Varieties. 
561 
ter  various  experiments  the  following  was  adopted : — The  leaves,  coarse- 
ly powdered,  were  exhausted  by  infusion  in  water  acidulated  by  30  grs. 
of  acetic  acid  per  kilogram  of  product.  The  liquor  was  filtered  and 
evaporated  in  a  water-bath  to  the  consistence  of  thick  honey.  It  was 
then  acid,  and  contained,  beside  the  alkaloid,  a  little  aromatic  matter 
and  a  large  quantity  of  acetate  of  lime.  When  the  acetic  acid  was 
replaced  by  citric  acid,  alcohol  caused  a  voluminous  precipitate  of  ci- 
trate of  lime ;  with  sulphuric  acid  it  formed  an  abundant  deposit  of 
sulphate  of  lime.  These  facts  indicate  the  presence  in  the  leaves  in 
large  proportion  of  a  lime  salt.  The  operation  was  terminated  by 
washing  with  ether,  saturating  with  the  alkaline  bicarbonate,  and 
taking  up  the  alkaloid  with  ether.  Upon  evaporation  a  residue  was 
left  which  was  dissolved  in  diluted  acetic  acid  and  then  precipitated 
by  ammonia.  It  was  usually  necessary  to  repeat  this  process  to  rid 
the  alkaloid  of  a  small  quantity  of  yellow  matter. 
Boldina  is  very  slightly  soluble  in  water,  to  which,  however,  it  com- 
municates an  alkaline  reaction  and  a  perceptibly  bitter  taste.  It  is 
lizable  benzin.  From  solution  in  acids  it  is  precipitated  by  ammonia 
soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  chloroform,  caustic  alkalies,  and  in  crystal- 
and  the  double  iodide  of  mercury  and  potassium,  and  gives  with  solu- 
tion of  iodine  a  chestnut-brown  precipitate.  Concentrated  nitric  acid 
immediately  colors  it  red  and  it  assumes  the  same  coloration  in  the 
cold  with  sulphuric  acid. — Pharm.  Journ.  (London),  Oct.  26,  1872,, 
from  Journal  de  Pharmacie  et  de  Chimie,  [4]  xvi,  191. 
iJarictice. 
To  Gut  and  Bore  India-Rubber  Corks.— W.  F.  Donkin. — Dip  the  knife  or 
cork-borer  in  solution  of  caustic  potash  or  soda.  The  strength  is  of  very  little 
consequence,  but  it  should  not  be  weaker  than  the  ordinary  reagent  solution. 
Alcohol  is  generally  recommended,  and  it  works  well  until  it  evaporates,  which 
is  generally  long  before  the  cork  is  cut  or  bored  through,  and  more  has  to  be 
applied  ;  water  acts  just  as  well  as  alcohol,  and  lasts  longer.  When,  however, 
a  tolerably  sharp  knife  is  moistened  with  soda-lve,  it  goes  through  India-rubber 
quite  as  easily  as  through  common  cork;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  a  cork- 
borer,  of  whatever  size.  I  have  frequently  bored  ineh  holes  in  large  caoutchouc 
stoppers,  perfectly  smooth  and  cylindrical,  by  this  method.  In  order  to  finish 
the  hole  without  the  usual  contraction  of  its  diameter,  the  stopper  should  be 
held  firmly  against  a  flat  surface  of  common  cork  till  the  borer  passes  into  the 
latter. — Chem.  News}  Lond.,  Aug.  30,  1872. 
36 
