198 
Identification  of  Cocaine, 
JAm.  Jour.  Pharm. 
1       May,  1911. 
stantly  reduce  the  permanganate.  Alpha-  and  beta-eucaine  and 
stovaine  do  not  reduce  the  permanganate  immediately,  resembling 
cocaine  in  this  respect.  No  crystals,  however,  are  formed  in  these 
cases. 
The  permanganate  reaction  requires  a  fairly  concentrated  solu- 
tion of  cocaine,  but  there  is  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  charactcr- 
FlG.  3. 
Cocaine  permanganate,  x  100. 
istic  violet-red  plates  in  a  2  per  cent,  solution.  "  With  a  one 
per  cent,  solution,  the  crystals  (of  cocaine  permanganate)  only 
form  as  evaporation  takes  place."  * 
PLATINUM  CHLORIDE  TEST.^ 
To  y2  c.c.  of  a  one  per  cent,  solution  of  cocaine  are  added 
two  drops  of  platinum  chloride  test  solution.  The  test  tube  should 
not  be  shaken,  as  larger  and  better  formed  crystals  will  result 
*  Allen,  Comm.  Org.  Anal.  2d  Ed.,  vol.  11 1,  pt.  ii,  p.  276. 
"A.  B.  Lyons,  Am.  Jour.  Pharmacy,  Ivii,  No.  10. 
