ON  COLCHICIN. 
349 
tion  dries  to  an  amorphous  shining  mass,  not  entirely  soluble  in 
dilute  sulphuric  acid.  The  above  precipitate  obtained  on  boil- 
ing with  sulphuric  acid,  was  dissolved  in  warm  alcohol,  from 
which  it  separated  in  the  form  of  shining  small  needles  in  radi- 
ating groups. 
The  products  of  splitting  of  colchicin  appear  to  be  colchicein, 
resin  in  yellow  scales,  body  precipitated  by  potassa,  matter  sol- 
uble in  water,  resinlike  body  insoluble  in  ether. 
The  following  are  the  reactions  of  solid  colchicin  and  of  its 
solution  in  20  parts  of  water  : 
Sulphuric  acid  colors  it  yellow  and  dissolves  it  without  de- 
composition ;  on  heating,  decomposition  takes  place. 
Nitric  acid  of  1-50  sp.  gr.  dissolves  it  greenish  yellow,  the 
fumigating  acid  with  a  deep  violet  color  approaching  indigo  blue, 
finally  yellow. 
Muriatic  acid  of  1-161  sp.  gr.  similar  to  sulphuric  acid. 
Dilute  sulphuric  or  muriatic  acid  produces  with  the  solution 
a  yellow  color ;  on  heating,  decomposition. 
Dilute  nitric  acid  yellow  color ;  on  heating,  deep  orange  and 
finally  turbid. 
Alkalies,  their  carbonates  and  the  alkaline  earths  produce  a 
yellow  color,  but  no  precipitate. 
Ferric  chloride,  a  deep  color,  no  precipitate. 
Acetate  and  subacetate  of  lead,  sulphate  of  copper,  ferrocy- 
anide,  ferridcyanide  and  sulphocyanide  of  potassium,  acetic  acid, 
chlorine  water,  chlorine  gas  and  iodine  water  cause  no  precipi- 
tate. 
Protronitrate  of  mercury,  after  8  hours,  a  strong  yellowish 
brown  precipitate. 
Corrosive  sublimate,  a  white  gelatinous  precipitate,  soluble  in 
more  water. 
Nitrate  of  silver,  a  white  precipitate,  soluble  in  water,  partly 
reprecipitated  on  standing. 
Terchloride  of  gold,  a  golden  yellow  precipitate,  soluble  in 
water. 
Bichloride  of  platinum,  after  8  hours,  a  small  precipitate. 
Chromate  of  potassa  no  reaction;  after  the  addition  of  sul- 
phuric acid  a  reddish  color. 
