356  BERBERINE  IN  XANTHORRHIZA  APIIFOLIA. 
It  is  very  seldom  that  the  alkaloid  is  not  completely  purified 
by  this  treatment ;  should  it  not  be,  the  process  must  be  re- 
peated.* 
The  authors  have  verified  their  process  in  various  ways.  Hydro- 
chlorate  of  morphine  mixed  with  panada,  or  putrid  meat,  ex- 
posed to  the  sun  for  fifteen  days,  was  integrally  detected  by  the 
special  reaction  it  gives  withsesquichloride  of  iron;  nevertheless, 
the  experiment  was  tried  with  less  than  a  decigramme  of  hydro- 
chlorate,  mixed  with  1  or  2  kil.  of  organic  matter.  The  dif- 
ferent portions  employed  varied  between  0-054  grammes  and 
0*005  grammes. 
They  have  also  recovered  a  drop  of  nicotine  and  two  drops 
of  coniine  respectively  added  to  750  grammes  of  panada. 
The  same  with  9  milligrammes  of  strychnine,  8  milligrammes 
of  narcotine,  as  well  as  with  a  mixture  formed  of  0-012  grammes 
of  morphine  and  0-013  grammes  of  narcotine  mixed  with  a  pulp 
of  vegetables  and  meat,  and  left  for  four  days  to  putrefy. 
The  alkaloids  when  recovered  were  separated  from  each  other 
by  ether  Ckern.  News,  London,  April  26th,  1862. 
ON  THE  OCCURRENCE  OF  BERBERINE   IN  XANTHORRHIZA 
APIIFOLIA. 
By  J.  Dyson  Perrins,  F.C.S. 
Having  lately  observed  the  presence  of  Berberine  in  Hy- 
drastis canadensis,  it  appeared  to  be  worth  while  to  ascertain 
whether  this  alkaloid  also  occurred  in  Xanthorrhiza  apiifolia, 
another  North  American  plant,  which  belongs  to  the  same  natural 
order,  Ranunculacese.  Professor  Bentley  having  announced  his 
early  intention  of  describing  the  botanical  characteristics,  pro- 
perties, uses,  etc.,  of  X.  apiifolia,  any  account  here  is  rendered 
*  To  all  acquainted  with  the  alteration  produced  in  nieotine  and  coniine 
by  the  presence  of  air,  it  will  be  difficult  to  understand  how  alkaloids  can 
escape  the  causes  of  decomposition  to  which  they  are  exposed  during  this 
process,  which  not  only  does  not  protect  them  from  the  action  of  the  air, 
but  exposes  them  to  it  in  presence  of  ammonia  at  the  temperature  of  a  water- 
bath. 
