432 
Glucoside  of  Nux  Vomim. 
(Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
{     August,  1884. 
Found. 
Calculated. 
I. 
II. 
53-77 
6-59 
39-64 
For  C25H:j4014. 
For  CssHsgO-H. 
c. 
H 
O. 
53-38 
6-61 
40-01 
C 
H 
O. 
53-76 
6.09 
40-15 
C, 
H 
O. 
53-57 
6-43 
40-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
It  is  seen  from  these  results  that  the  formula  of  the  substance  which 
we  propose  to  call  loganin  (Loganiacea?)  is  most  probably  C25H34014, 
although  this  formula  will  require  confirmation  in  other  ways,  for  these 
empirical  results  might  also  lead  to  the  formula  C25H360I4.  The  first 
formula  is  that  given  to  the  glucoside  arbutin  (from  Arctostaphylos 
Uva-ursi  and  Pyrola  umbellata)  by  Hlasiwetz  and  Habermann  {Ann. 
Chem.  Pharm.,  clxxvii.,  339),  although,  according  to  Schiff,  the  sub- 
stance analysed  by  these  chemists  was  a  mixture  of  arbutin  (C12H1607.) 
and  methyl  arbutin  (C13H1807).  Habermann  has  since  (Monats.  f. 
Chem.,  iv.,  753)  upheld  the  correctness  of  the  original  formula  by 
further  experimental  results.  But,  be  this  as  it  may,  the  glucoside 
from  Strychnos  Nux-vomica  is  shown  to  be  radically  distinct  from 
both  arbutin  and  methyl  arbutin,  by  a  much  higher  melting  point, 
and  by  not  yielding  quinol  (hydroquinone)  or  methyl-quinol  when 
acted  on  by  diluted  sulphuric  acid. 
The  crystals  of  loganin  lose  no  water  when  slowly  heated  from 
100°— 180°O.  When  further  heated  they  liquefy  at  215°C,  this 
observation  being  made  with  the  substance  very  gradually  heated  on 
the  surface  of  mercury  contained  in  a  beaker,  supported  on  a  non- 
conductor in  an  air-bath — in  fact,  by  a  modification  of  the  method 
for  determining  melting  points  originally  suggested  by  Professor 
Redwood.  This  melting  point  was  redetermined,  using  a  capillary 
tube  sealed  at  one  end,  into  which  the  substance  was  introduced,  the 
tube  being  slowly  heated  in  a  bath  of  glycerol  (glycerin).  It  was 
noticed  that  the  crystals  softened  at  200° C.  and  become  transparently 
liquid  at  215°C.  Loganin  is  easily  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  less 
soluble  in  ether,  chloroform  and  benzene.  The  aqueous  solution  is 
not  precipitated  by  any  of  the  alkaloid  reagents,  neither  by  lead 
acetate  nor  silver  nitrate  ;  further  the  solution  is  not  affected  by  ferric 
chloride.  Loganin  develops  no  color  when  acted  upcn  by  nitric  acid 
or  other  oxidizing  agents,  although  it  is  powerfully  oxidized  by  a 
mixture  of  sulphuric  acid  and  potassium  dichromate;  bromine  water 
is  decolorized  by  a  solution  of  the  glucoside.    The  most  characteristic 
