36 
Note  on  Nareeine. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1800. 
Iii  a  second  series  of  experiments  a  fixed  quantity  of  the  alka- 
loid salt,  with  a  definite  quantity  of  acid,  Avas  dissolved  in  water; 
this  solution  being  colored  by  litmus  tincture,  NaOH  solution  was 
added  until  a  distinct  blue  color  had  appeared.  From  the  quantity 
of  JSTaOH  solution  (9*65  cc.  ==  0*0365  gram  HC1)  the  amount  of 
acid  was  calculated.  While  the  weak  opium-bases  have  no  neutral- 
izing power  on  acids,  and  no  influence  on  the  color  of  litmus,  the 
quantity  of  acid  found  by  titration  with  NaOH  must  be  the  same 
as  that  calculated  from  the  formula. 
1.  Hydrochlorate  of  narcotine  containing  7*718  per.  cent  HC1. 
Taken  400  mgrrn.  with  30*87  mgrm.  HC1,  dissolved  in  about  30 
cc.  water.  This  solution  needed  for  neutralization  8*4  cc.  soda  so- 
lution =  30*66  mgrm.  HC1. 
2.  Hydrochlorate  of  nareeine  containing  6*9076  per  cent.  HC1. 
Taken  368  mgrm.  with  25*32  mgrm.  HC1,  dissolved  in  50  cc. 
water  ;  used  6*8  cc.  soda  solution  =  25*72  mgrm.  HC1. 
3.  Hydrochlorate  of  papaverine  containing  9*809  per  cent.  HC1. 
Taken  400  mgrm.  with  39*24  mgrm.  HC1.    Used  10*4  cc.  soda 
solution  =  39*34  mgrm.  HC1. 
All  other  alkaloids  show  very  different  results.  Out  of  several 
experiments  I  will  quote  here  only  one  : 
4.  Nitrate  of  strychnine  containing  15*87  per  cent.  HN03. 
Taken  326  mgrm.  with  51*73  mgrm.  HN03,  dissolved  in  40  cc. 
water.  While  this  quantity  of  uncombined  nitric  acid  would  require 
nearly  8  cc.  of  the  soda  solution,  in  the  proof  the  first  drop  of  the 
natron-lye  already  caused  a  deep  blue  color. 
II.  Another  ground  for  my  division  of  opium  bases  into  strong  and 
weak  ones  is  the  phenomena  shown  by  its  salts  with  respect  to  the 
alkali  salts  of  organic  acids. 
The  strong  bases  (morphine,  codeine  and  thebaine)  are  not  pre- 
cipitated by  the  solutions  of  the  alkali  salts  of  organic  acids  (acetates, 
oxalates,  tartrates,  benzoates,  etc.),  but  from  the  solutions  of  nar- 
cotine, papaverine  and  nareeine  salts  the  pure  alkaloid  is  precipitated, 
while  these  weak  bases  (B.)  do  not  combine  with  the  weak  acid  : 
RHCl+CH3COONa  =  NaCl+CH2COOH+R. 
III.  The  weak  bases,  narcotine,  papaverine  and  nareeine,  are  also 
precipitated  from  the  solutions  of  their  salts  by  the  solutions  of  pure 
NaHC02,  while  the  strong  bases,  morphine  and  codeine,  remain  in 
the  solutions. 
