DEPORTMENT  OF  ALKALOIDS  WITH  REAGENTS,  ETC.  29 
duces  a  yellow  precipitate,  which  after  a  time  disappears.  Upon 
further  addition  of  iodine  solution,  a  copious  kermes-colored  pre- 
cipitate separates ;  but  this  also  disappears  again  after  a  time. 
7.  Solution  of  tannic  acid  produces  a  copious  white  precipi- 
tate, which  redissolves  upon  addition  of  hydrochloric  acid. 
8.  If  an  aqueous  solution  of  nicotina  is  added  to  a  solution  of 
chloride  of  mercury  in  excess,  an  abundant,  flocculent,  white  pre- 
cipitate is  formed.  If  solution  of  chloride  of  ammonium  is  now 
added  to  the  mixture  in  sufficient  quantity,  the  entire  precipi- 
tate, or  the  greater  part  of  it,  redissolves.  But  the  fluid  very 
soon  turns  turbid,  and  deposits  a  heavy  white  precipitate. 
2.  Conia,  or  Conine  (C16  H15  N). 
1.  Conia  forms  a  colorless  oily  liquid,  of  0-87  sp.  gr.  ;  the 
action  of  the  air  imparts  to  it  a  brown  tint.  In  the  pure  state 
it  boils  at  about  392°  F. ;  when  heated  in  a  stream  of  hydrogen 
gas,  it  distils  over  unaltered  ;  but  when  distilled  in  vessels  con- 
taining air,  it  turns  brown  and  suffers  partial  decomposition ; 
with  aqueous  vapors  it  distils  over  freely.  It  dissolves  sparingly 
in  water,  100  parts  of  water  of  the  common  temperature  dissolv- 
ing 1  part  of  conia.  The  solution  turns  turbid  on  warming. 
Conia  is  miscible  in  all  proportions  with  alcohol  and  ether.  The 
aqueous  and  alcoholic  solutions  manifest  strong  alkaline  reaction. 
Conia  has  a  very  strong,  pungent,  repulsive  odor,  which  affects 
the  head,  a  most  acrid  and  disagreeable  taste,  and  very  poison- 
ous properties. 
2.  Conia  is  a  strong  base ;  it  accordingly  precipitates  metal- 
lic oxides  from  their  solutions,  in  a  similar  way  to  ammonia,  and 
forms  salts  with  acids.  The  salts  of  conia  are  soluble  in  water 
and  in  spirit  of  wine,  but  nearly  insoluble  in  ether.  Hydrochlo- 
rate  of  conia  crystallizes  readily ;  the  smallest  quantity  of  this 
base,  brought  in  contact  with  a  trace  of  hydrochloric  acid,  yields 
almost  immediately  a  corresponding  quantity  of  non-deliquescent 
rhombic  crystals,  (Th.  Wertheim).  The  solutions  of  the  salts  of 
conia  turn  brownish  upon  evaporation,  with  partial  decomposition  of 
the  conia.  The  dry  salts  of  conia  do  not  smell  of  the  alkaloid ; 
when  moistened,  they  smell  only  feebly  of  it ;  but  upon  addition 
of  solution  of  soda,  they  at  once  emit  a  strong  conia  odor.  When 
