^M^;m3RM-}    Analysis  of  Coptis  Trifolia,  Salisb.  195 
crystalline  character.  The  mass  was  redissolved  in  hot  water,  and 
again  set  aside  to  crystallize,  Berberina, — No.  1.  The  precipitate  in 
the  last  detailed  experiment,  after  the  addition  of  more  hydrochloric 
acid,  had  a  somewhat  crystalline  structure.  This  was  boiled  in  water, 
forming  a  solution  of  bright  yellow  color,  and  leaving  a  resinous  mass 
soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether.  When  the  solution  was  acidulated  with 
hydrochloric  acid,  a  yellow  precipitate  was  formed,  which  re-dissolved 
when  heated;  this  was  set  aside  for  further  examination — No.  2. 
The  mother  liquor  from  crystals  No.  1  was  heated  with  a  view  to 
driving  off  some  of  the  acid,  when  a  resin  was  precipitated  similar  in 
every  respect  to  a  deposit  spoken  of  before.  This  was  soluble  in  al- 
cohol, of  very  bitter  taste,  and,  on  spontaneous  evaporation,  yield- 
ed an  amorphous  bitter  mass  possessed  of  the  odor  of  the  plant. 
This  was  examined  with  the  crystals.  After  separation  of  the  sub- 
stances just  mentioned  from  the  liquor,  it  (the  liquor)  was  supersatu- 
rated with  carbonate  of  sodium,  when  a  precipitate  occurred,  which, 
on  being  collected  and  thoroughly  washed,  was  treated  with  alcohol, 
yielding  a  bright  yellow  tincture,  which  was  allowed  to  evaporate 
spontaneously.  The  alkaline  liquid  was  next  shaken  with  amylic  al- 
cohol, giving  to  it  a  bright  yellow  or  orange  color,,  which  color  was 
readily  yielded  to  water  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid.  As  the  solu- 
tion of  the  precipitate  given  by  carbonate  of  sodium  on  evaporation 
yielded  no  crystals,  it  was  supposed  that  a  sufficient  excess  of  carb. 
sodium  had  not  been  used  ;  so  the  acidulated  solution  obtained  from 
amylic  alcohol  was  treated  with  carbonate  of  sodium  in  considerable  ex- 
cess, when  a  precipitate  was  obtained  which,  on  being  well  washed  with 
aqua  ammonise,  became  almost  colorless.  This  was  dissolved  in  water 
by  the  aid  of  hydrochloric  acid,  evaporated  to  syrupy  consistence  and 
allowed  to  crystallize,  No.  3.  The  supernatant  liquid  from  the  soda 
precipitate  was  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid,  treated  with  alcohol  to 
remove  sulphate  of  sodium,  then  evaporated  to  a  small  bulk,  and  set 
aside — No.  4. 
Examination  of  the  crystalline  substances. — The  crystals  from  Nos. 
1,  2  and  4,  all  answered  the  tests  peculiar  to  and  distinguishing  Ber- 
berina,  though  those  of  No.  4  were  plainer  and  no  doubt  purer — the 
first  being  more  or  less  contaminated  with  coloring  matter.  These 
tests  were  as  follows  : 
Sparing  solubility  in  ether  and  alcohol  when  cold,  more  soluble  in 
ether  when  hot,  and  entirely  so  in  boiling  alcohol.    They  were  dis- 
