98 
Seeds  of  Calycanthus  Glancits. 
I  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t        Feb.,  1890. 
ing  the  latter  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  (1*50)  removing  from 
the  acid  liquid  traces  of  oil  by  petroleum,  rendering  alkaline 
by  ammonia,  and  extracting  the  alkaloid  by  ether  ;  yield  '027 
per  cent,  of  the  oil. 
Experimenting  with  the  kernel  of  the  seeds  freed  from 
hulls  and  deprived  of  fat  by  petroleum  spirit,  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  ether,  alcohol,  chloroform,  or  a  mixture  of  ether 
and  alcohol  would  extract  only  a  portion  of  the  alkaloid. 
Better  results  were  obtained  with  a  mixture  of  ether,  alcohol 
and  ammonia.  The  following  process  yields  the  largest 
amount  of  alkaloid  in  a  pure  state:  Digest  for  four  days  10 
gm.  of  the  powder  with  100  cc.  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  (1:50) 
at  about  35°  C;  make  the  emulsion-like  mixture  strongly  alka- 
line with  ammonia,  shake  with  ether,  pour  off  the  slowly 
separating  ethereal  layer  and  evaporate  ;  wash  the  resulting 
extract  with  about  100  cc.  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  free  this 
solution  from  fat,  etc.,  by  washing  with  ether,  render  strongly 
alkaline  by  sodic  hydrate  and  shake  with  ether.  Yield  4*25 
per  cent. 
Calycanthine  separates  from  ether  in  feathery  crystals,  or 
on  slower  evaporation,  in  triangular  crystals. 
By  treatment  as  indicated  above,  the  hulls  yielded  '83  per 
cent,  of  alkaloidal  principle,  containing  traces  of  calycanthine 
and  an  amorphous  compound  the  nature  of  which  has  not 
yet  been  determined. 
Dr.  Eccles  described  the  beautiful  green  color  produced  by 
nitric  acid.  The  following  additional  color  reactions  were 
observed  :  H,S04  pale  yellow.  H2S04  +  sucrose  fine  purple, 
persistent  and  changing  finally  to  blue.  H2S04  +  K2Cr2Or 
fine  blood-brick-red. 
Dextrose,  maltose,  etc.,  gave  also  the  furfurol  reaction 
but  without  so  marked  a  purple  as  with  sucrose.  The  pres- 
ence of  sugar  in  the  seeds  renders  it  possible  to  secure  the 
furfurol  reaction  in  the  raw  seed  by  the  simple  application 
of  H2S04. 
Rubidium  -  Ammonium  bromide,  according  to  Dr.  Rottenbiller 
{Internal,  klin.  Rundschau),  when  given  in  doses  of  5  gm.  daily,  reduces  the 
frequency  of  epileptic  attacks,  but  like  potassium  bromide  exerts  no  permanent 
effect  in  this  disease. 
