Am  f^iisE™ }  Casoara  Amarga.  333 
Matter  insoluble  in  absolute  alcohol  contains: 
Soluble  in  water,  including   3*<55  " 
Colors,  some  extractives  precipitated  with  lead 
sub-acetate     2*01  " 
Matter  not  precipitated  with  lead  sub-acetate, 
freed  from  lead  with  H2S  gave  reaction  for 
alkaloid  and  trace  of  gin coside   1*54  " 
Matter  insoluble  in  water  ;  containing   131  " 
Soluble  in  acidulated  water,  reactions  for  alka- 
loids  -27  " 
Insoluble  in  acid  water,  resins,  extractives         1*04  " 
Total  extract   12*65  " 
Remaining  drug  was  treated  with  cold  water,  yielding  4'16  per  cent, 
extract;  then  with  hot  water  containing  sulphuric  acid,  changing 
starch  into  glucose,  which  was  approximately  estimated  with  a  standard 
Fehling  solution,  showing  1'94  per  cent,  calculated  as  starch. 
A  portion  of  drug  was  treated  by  the  U.  S.  P.  process  for  cinchona 
assay.  The  alkaloid  solution  after  neutralizing  with  sodium  hydrate 
was  shaken  out  with  several  portions  of  a  mixture  of  chloroform  and 
ether,  and  allowed  to  evaporate  at  a  moderate  temperature,  yielding 
3  per  cent,  of  brownish-yellow  amorphous  alkaloid,  which  has  a 
sweetish  taste  at  first,  afterward  becoming  bitter.  This  alkaloid  was 
treated  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  hydrochloric,  tartaric  and  others,  but 
was  unable  to  obtain  crystals  from  any  of  the  salts.  Salts  of  this 
alkaloid  are  freely  soluble  in  water,  insoluble  in  ether  or  chloroform, 
are  amorphous,  forming  a  white  powder  when  pulverized.  Treated 
with  strong  sulphuric  or  nitric  acid  was  unable  to  notice  any  colored 
reactions. 
Several  pounds  of  drug  were  treated  with  lime  water,  dried  and 
exhausted  with  hot  alcohol,  which  on  cooling  deposited  a  white 
amorphous  substance,  which  was  treated  several  times  with  hot  alcohol 
and  allowed  to  separate  out  on  cooling  as  a  white,  crystal lizable,  taste- 
less substance,  having  a  low  fusing  point,  freely  soluble  in  chloroform, 
less  soluble  in  ether  and  benzin  ;  insoluble  in  dilute  acids  and  fixed 
alkalies,  and  when  fused  on  platinum-foil  developes  a  strong  fat-like 
odor,  reminding  one  of  the  odor  of  the  fats  when  fused.  A  small 
portion  allowed  to  crystallize  from  hot  alcohol,  deposited  white,  acicular- 
shaped  crystals. 
The  alkaloid,  obtained  in  different  ways,  I  would  suggest  to  name, 
Picramnine. 
