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ON  THE  ALKALOIDS  OF  HYDRASTIS. 
mation  I  had  that  the  alkaloid  I  had  named  Hydrastia,  was 
identical  with  berberina.  The  analysis  of  Mahla  was  not  en- 
tirely satisfactory,  and  I  immediately  set  about  having  this 
point  further  investigated. 
From  some  brief  experiments,  too  crude  to  be  reported  as  a 
scientific  analysis,  I  had  a  long  time  before  satisfied  myself 
that  the  yellow  coloring  principle  of  the  xanthorhiza  was  the  same 
as  that  of  the  berberis,  but  did  not  suspect  their  identity  with 
that  of  the  hydrastis. 
To  determine  this  question,  we  prepared  crystallized  speci- 
mens of  the  muriate  of  berberina,  and  of  our  hydrastia,  and 
subjected  them  to  a  series  of  comparative  experiments,  and 
these  then  led  us  to  the  conclusion,  that  although  similar,  they 
were  not  identical.  Among  these  experiments  were  the  follow- 
ing : 
1st.  Equal  quantities  of  these  muriates  were  dissolved  in  a 
dilute  solution  of  potassa.  That  of  hydrastia  remained  un- 
changed in  color,  whilst  that  of  berberina  became  hyacinth  red, 
and  these  colors  remained  at  the  end  of  five  days. 
2d.  Equal  portions  were  dissolved  in  equal  quantities  of  boiling 
alcohol.  On  cooling,  the  muriate  of  hydrastia  soon  formed  large 
stellar  crystals,  and  when  cold  became  semi-solid.  The  berberina 
solution  when  cold,  showed  only  a  cloud  of  extremely  fine  crys- 
tals. And  as  far  as  tried,  this  salt  of  berberina  appeared  more 
soluble  in  all  cold  menstrua,  than  that  of  the  hydrastia. 
3.  To  equal  solutions  in  alcohol,  tincture  of  iodine  was  added.  In 
veyed  in  the  paper  of  Mr,  Merrill,  that  Durand's  description  of  his  alkaloid 
was  very  indefinite.  So  far  from  this  being  the  case,  he  describes  three 
distinct  processes  for  obtaining  it,  proves  its  alkaline  reaction,  its  crystal- 
line form,  its  saturating  power,  its  precipitability  by  tannic  acid  and  am- 
monia, its  total  destructibility  by  heat,  and  its  nitrogenous  nature.  The 
only  reason  he  hesitated  to  call  it  an  alkaloid  was  the  fact  of  its  salts  not 
crystallizing.  Now  on  this  point  Mr.  Merrill  says  it  forms  salts,  ie  that 
are  very  soluble,  and  difficultly,  if  at  all,  crystallizable,"  and  hence  he 
corroborates  Durand,  and  removes  the  only  reason  why  he  hesitated  to 
call  his  product  hydrastia.  With  these  explanations  of  tfie  past  history  of 
these  principles,  we  are  prepared  to  accord  to  Mr.  Merrill  and  Prof.  Garri- 
son all  credit  due  them  for  their  investigations  of  these  principles  in  the 
pages  which  follow,  as  a  valuable  contribution  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
subject. 
