208 
Laserpitin. 
{A.m.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1884. 
of  these  I  obtained  white  precipitates;  the  codeia  and  morphia  became 
pale  yellow  on  boiling ;  in  many  cases  crystals  of  apparently  new 
combinations  separated. 
For  practically  working  the  test,  I  recommend  the  following  pro- 
cedure :  To  a  small  portion  of  atropine  in  a  test  tube,  add  about  2 
cc.  of  a  5  per  cent,  solution  of  mercuric  chloride  in  50  per  cent, 
alcohol  and  warm  gently ;  the  precipitate  will  at  once  appear,  and 
become  brick-red  in  color.  Like  most  alkaloidal  reactions,  I  find  there 
are  certain  limiting  conditions  necessary  for  the  success  of  the  test.  It 
does  not  answer  in  dilute  solutions,  neither  does  it  turn  out  well  if  the 
atropine  be  added  to  the  mercury,  but  working  as  I  have  described  the 
reaction  is  strongly  marked. 
In  forensic  analysis  the  above  test  will  be  of  value,  as  hitherto  no 
reliable  chemical  test  for  atropine  has  been  known.  This  communica- 
tion also  shows,  that  under  certain  conditions,  atropine,  contrary  to  the 
general  statement,  behaves  towards  mercuric  chloride  not  like  ammonia, 
but  similar  to  the  hydrates  of  the  alkali  metals. — Pharm.  Jour,  and 
Trans.,  March  8,  1884,  p.  718. 
LASERPITIN. 
By  R.  Kulz. 
The  author  has  made  an  investigation  to  determine  the  nature  of 
the  bitter  principle  laserpitin,  which  is  contained  in  the  root  of  Laser- 
pitium  latifolium,  or  white  gentian  root,  and  to  discover  the  connection 
(if  any)  which  obtains  between  this  substance  and  the  bitter  principles 
contained  in  other  umbelliferous  plants. 
Laserpitin. — The  finely  sliced  root  was  extracted  by  boiling  with 
light  petroleum,  and  on  evaporating  the  solution  laserpitin  was  depo- 
sited in  crystals  belonging  to  the  monoclinic  system.  These  were  puri- 
fied by  recrystallization  from  light  petroleum,  and  were  found  to  con- 
tain no  water  of  crystallization.  Laserpitin  melts  at  118°,  is  insoluble 
in  dilute  acids  or  alkalis,  but  is  easily  soluble  in  chloroform,  ether, 
benzene  and  carbon  bisulphide.  Concentrated  acids  decompose  it,  sul- 
phuric acid  dissolving  it  with  the  production  of  a  deep  reel  color. 
This  same  color  is  observed  when  laserpitin  is  boiled  with  concentrated 
hydrochloric  acid,  or  with  alcoholic  potash. 
A  series  of  combustions  of  the  pure  laserpitin  gave  numbers  point- 
