404 
Menispermum  Canadense. 
(Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\     August,  1884. 
out  residue.  Other  marked  differences  are  that  menispermine  is  per- 
fectly devoid  of  taste,  the  other  persistently  bitter,  even  in  very  dilute 
solutions.  Menispermine  is  insoluble  in  water,  and  barely  soluble  in 
excess  of  alcohol  and  chloroform. 
The  following  experiments  prove,  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  the 
alkaloid  to  be  distinct  from  either  oxyacanthine  or  menispermine. 
The  solutions  used  in  this  case  wTere  in  alcohol,  94  per  cent.,  the 
strengths  being  one  part  in  two  hundred.  The  reactions  of  the  white 
alkaloid  of  Menispermum  canadense  are  identical  in  both  water  and 
alcohol ;  the  table  given  by  the  author  describing  the  precipitates 
obtained  from  the  weaker  solutions  as  being  of  a  paler  color,  but  as 
being  distinctly  observable  in  a  1^Q0  solution,  the  reactions  with  potas- 
sio-mercuric  iodide,  phospho-molybdic  acid  and  tannin  being  faintest. 
Menispermine  was  examined  at  the  suggestion  of  Prof.  Maisch,  to 
whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  the  sample  used  in  the  experimentation. 
Menispermine. 
Oxyacanthine. 
Menispine. 
Tr.  Iodine  Yellow  ppt. 
Iodine  in  KI   "  44 
Potass.  Merc.  Iod  White    ' ' 
Ac.  phospho-molyb..      "  44 
Potass,  cadm.  Iod  j     4  4       4  4 
Acid,  picric  !Yellow  44 
Platinic  chloride. 
Gold  chloride  
Acid,  tannic  
Acid,  sulph.  cone 
Yellow  coloration. 
Dark  brown  red  ppt. 
Yellowish  ppt. 
Brown  ppt.insol.inbut 
;   dark  blue  by  NH4OH 
j  White  ppt. 
jlnsol.  in  HC2H302. 
Yellowish  ppt. 
Insol.  in  HC1.  Yellow- 
ish ppt. 
:Insol.  in  HC1.  Orange 
ppt. 
Brownish  ppt.,  insol. 
in  HCoH3Oo  and  dil. 
HC1.  " 
Brownish  purple, 
darker  on  standing. 
Dark  red  ppt. 
Yellowish  white  ppt. 
Yellow  ppt.  sol.  in 
NH4OH  with't  ch'nge 
Grayish  ppt. 
Sol.  in  HC2H302. 
low  ppt. 
Yel- 
in  HC1.  Yellow 
Insol. 
ppt. 
Insol.  in  HC1.  Orange 
ppt. 
Whitish  ppt.,  insol.  in 
HC2H302and  dil.  HC1. 
Brown,  fades  on  stand- 
ing. 
Acid,  sulpho-molyb- 
die  j  Yellowish  14 
Acid,  nitric,  cone  
Zinc  chloride,  fused.. 
No  change. 
Purple,  fades  slowly,  Brown,  fades  to  yellow 
becomes  yellow,  then 
green. 
Orange  red,  effervesces  Effervesces,  yellow, 
color  permanent.  permanent. 
Chocolate  brown. 
Brownish  yellow. 
The  four  last  mentioned  reagents  were  applied  to  the  powdered 
alkaloids. 
