CHLORINE AND ORGANIC ALKALIES. 
161 
is attacked, and that a very white flocculent matter swims 
upon the surface in the form of froth. 
If the action of the chlorine be suspended before all the 
strychnia is decomposed, and if the flocculent matter be sepa- 
rated by the filter, the undecomposed strychnia will be found 
in the liquid dissolved in hydrochloric acid. 
If we continue to pass chlorine through this solution of 
hydrochlorate of strychnia, the dissolved alkali will still be 
attacked as when free, and new portions of flocculent matter 
be formed as long as there remains any trace of strychnia in 
the liquor. If the liquid be now examined, it will be found 
that it is but little colored, except under circumstances to be 
hereafterpointed out, but that it has become very acid; saturated 
with ammonia, it lets fall some white flocculi produced by the 
matter before noticed, which is no longer strychnia, but a 
substance formed at its expense; finally, on evaporating the 
liquid we obtain the hydrochlorate of ammonia containing 
only a trace of organic matter. 
If, in place of passing chlorine through water holding 
strychnia in suspension, we act upon a salt of strychnia in 
solution, the white matter is formed immediately, and the 
bubbles of the gas are seen surrounded with a white shining 
envelope, a white froth covering the whole surface of the 
liquid; this effect continues as long as any trace of strychnia 
remains in the liquid. 
On the passage of the first bubbles, the liquid becomes acid; 
this acidity is owing "to the liberation of the acid which had 
been saturated by the strychnia, and likewise to the formation 
of hydrochloric acid immediately on the reaction taking place. 
When this liquid ceases to form flocculi, it retains in solu- 
tion but a small quantity of organic matter, composed almost 
entirely of this flocculent substance, which, although not 
soluble by itself, becomes slightly so, by the aid of the free 
acids, contained in the liquid. 
A phenomenon which often occurs during the action of the 
chlorine upon strychnia, is the appearance of a red color in 
VOL. IV. — NO. II. 21 
