ON  QUINIDINE.  233 
emerus  L.,  known  in  France,  and  those  of  Grldbularia  atypum, 
occurring  in  Germany.  Whether  our  drug,  which  there  is  reason 
to  think  may  be  from  the  same  source  as  that  of  Dr.  Walz,  is 
really  identical  with  his,  will  soon  be  determined. 
A  chemical  examination,  I  regret  to  say,  could  be  but  very 
superficially  performed,  owing  to  my  time  being  previously  en- 
gaged with  other  chemical  researches.  The  brown  decoction, 
however,  had  a  strong  acid  reaction,  and  not  disagreeable  odor 
of  Willow  Bark,  and  an  intensely  bitter  quinine-like  taste.  Solu- 
tion of  baryta  and  acetate  of  lead  precipitated  a  yellowish  color- 
ing matter,  which  appeared  of  the  same  nature  as  that  found  in 
Rhubarb  and  in  Rhamnus  frangula.  The  decoction  also  con- 
tained gallic  and  tannic  acids,  besides  some  indifferent  extractive 
matter. 
It  was  remarkable,  that  after  two  extractions  with  water,  the 
leaves  became  completely  black.  In  conclusion,  I  may  express 
the  hope  that  Dr.  Walz  may,  by  a  chemical  analysis  and  the 
isolation  of  the  crystallizable  bitter  substance  which  he  has  dis- 
covered, succeed  in  completing  our  acquaintance  with  this  so- 
called  Wild  Senna. — London  Pharm.  Jour.,  February,  1857. 
ON  QUINIDINE. 
By  J  E.  De  Vry,  Ph.  D.,  Kotterdam, 
Honorary  Member  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain. 
In  the  year  1853,  Pasteur  found  that  the  substance  called 
Quinidine  was  a  mixture  of  two  crystallizable  alkaloids,  each  of 
which  had  a  different  rotatory  power  when  observed  in  the  polariz- 
ing apparatus. 
The  greater  part  of  the  mixture  was  laevogyre,  and  the  crystals 
were  not  altered  in  the  air.  With  chlorine  and  liquor  ammoniee 
no  green  coloration  was  observed.  To  this  part  of  the  mixture, 
Pasteur  gave  the  name  of  Oinchonidine. 
The  smaller  part  of  the  mixture  was  quinidine ;  it  was  dex- 
trogyre  and  isomeric  with  quinine.  The  crystals  were  efflores- 
cent in  dry  air  and  very  soon  became  opaque.  With  chlorine 
and  Liquor  ammonias  they  showed  the  same  green  color  as  does 
quinine  when  similarly  treated. 
Although  the  mixture  which  Pasteur  examined,  consisted  of 
