t 
ON  THE  ALKALOIDS  OF  HYDRASTIS. 
503 
From  this  all  the  other  salts  are  readily  obtained  by  processes 
that  will  suggest  themselves  to  every  chemist.  They  mostly 
crystallize  in  needle-shaped  or  feathery  crystals,  and  are  all  of 
a  brilliant  yellow  color. 
A  little  of  the  pure  base  hydrastia  was  obtained  by  withdraw- 
ing the  acid  from  the  sulphate  by  baryta,  or  what  succeeded 
better  in  our  hands,  by  oxide  of  lead.  The  pure  alkaloid  is  un- 
crystallizable,  but  combines  readily  with  all  acids  which  we  have 
presented  to  it. 
The  other  alkaloid  which  we  had  named  "  hydrastina,"  is  still 
in  the  mother  liquor.  From  this  it  is  precipitated  in  its  basic 
condition  by  an  alkali,  say  soda  or  ammonia,  which  combines 
with  its  organic  acid,  or  the  hydrochloric  acid  with  which  it  is 
now  combined,  and  let  it  fall  as  a  greyish  white  powder,  as  it  is 
wholly  insoluble  in  cold  aqueous  fluids.  This  is  purified  by  re. 
peated  solution  in  boiling  alcohol,  and  crystallization  from  it 
on  cooling.  It  crystallizes  in  large,  quadrangular  prisms,  with 
very  acute  pyramidal  summits,  and  when  pure  are  white  or 
colorless.  Although  itself  is  quite  insoluble  in  water,  and  is 
easily  crystallized,  it  readily  combines  with  all  the  acids,  and 
forms  salts  that  are  very  soluble,  and  difficultly,  if  at  all,  crys- 
tallizable  :  presenting  in  these  respects  exactly  the  reverse  of 
the  other  alkaloid. 
When  the  preservation  of  the  resinoid  principle  is  not  desired, 
these  alkaloids  may  be  more  economically  obtained  by  exhaust- 
ing the  ground  root  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  instead  of  alco- 
hol, as  the  sulphates  of  both  of  them  are  readily  soluble,  but  the 
process  is  somewhat  more  circuitous  and  complicated,  and  I 
will  not  extend  this  already  too  long  paper  to  describe  it. 
We  have  isolated  the  organic  acid  with  which  these  bases  are 
combined  in  their  normal  state,  but  not  in  sufficient  quantity  or 
purity  to  enable  us  to  determine  whether  it  be  a  distinct  prin- 
ciple, or  is  identical  with  some  of  the  vegetable  acids  already 
known.    If  time  permits,  we  will  investigate  that  matter  farther. 
Submitting  these  remarks,  I  remain,  yours  truly, 
Wm.  S.  Merrill,  A.  M. 
Cincinnati,  August  2&th,  1862, 
