VERATRUM  VIRIDE. 
209 
Solution  of  bichloride  of  mercury, 
on  a  muriate,  a  white  precipitate. 
Tincture  of  chloride  of  iron  on  a 
muriate,  no  precipitate  or  colora- 
tion. 
Iodo-hydrargyrate  of  potassium, 
a  white  precipitate. 
Dissolved  in  weak  chlorine  water, 
and  ammonia  added,  a  white  pre- 
cipitate ;  a  small  portion  of  ferro- 
cyanide  of  potassium  introduced  be- 
fore the  ammonia,  made  no  altera- 
tion. 
Mixed  with  a  large  amount  of 
sulphuric  acid  and  a  particle  of  ni- 
trate of  potassa  added,  no  addition- 
al coloration. 
Solution  of  chloride  of  gold,  a 
yellow  precipitate  insoluble  in  an* 
excess :  this  precipitate  was,  how- 
ever, soluble  when  boiled,  forming 
a  greenish  liquid  in  which  caustic 
potassa  gave  a  purplish  black  pre- 
cipitate. 
Tincture  of  iodine,  a  brownish  red 
precipitate  soluble  by  boiling  into 
a  clear  red  liquid ;  ammonia  added 
to  this  while  still  warm  gave  a  yel- 
low precipitate,  gradually  changing 
to  white.* 
Solution  of  bichloride  of  mercury 
on  a  muriate,  a  white  precipitate. 
Tincture  of  chloride  of  iron  on  a 
muriate,  no  precipitate  or  colora- 
tion. 
Iodo-hydrargyrate  of  potassium, 
a  white  precipitate. 
Dissolved  in  weak  chlorine  water, 
and  ammonia  added,  a  white  pre- 
cipitate ;  a  small  portion  of  ferro- 
cyanide  of  potassium  introduced  be- 
fore the  ammonia,  made  no  altera- 
tion. 
Mixed  with  a  large  amount  of 
sulphuric  acid  and  a  particle  of  ni- 
trate of  potassa  added,  no  addition- 
al coloration. 
Solution  of  chloride  of  gold,  a 
yellow  precipitate  insoluble  in  an 
excess :  this  precipitate  was,  how- 
ever, soluble  when  boiled;  forming 
a  greenish  liquid  in  which  caustic 
potassa  gave  a  purplish  black  pre- 
cipitate. 
Tincture  of  iodine,  a  brownish  red 
precipitate  dissolved  on  boiling  in- 
to a  clear  red  liquid  ;  ammonia  ad- 
ded to  this  while  still  warm,  gave  a 
yellow  precipitate,  gradually  chang- 
ing to  white. 
These  experiments  which  were  carefully  made,  and  where  any 
doubt  appeared  to  exist,  several  times  repeated,  show  that,  not 
only  in  its  physical  characteristics,  but  also  in  its  chemical  re- 
actions, the  alkaloid  of  veratrum  viride  is  identical  with  the 
veratria  of  the  veratrum  sabadilla ;  thus  answering,  and  I  con- 
fidently believe  conclusively,  the  mooted  question,  whose  solu- 
tion was  my  original  object. 
*  The  precipitates  produced  in  the  solutions  with  chloride  of  gold  and 
tincture  of  iodine  appear  to  be  characteristic;  they  are  at  least  sufficient  to 
distinguish  this  alkaloid  from  strychnia,  quinia  and  cinchonia. 
14 
