1 8         Action  of  Sulphuric  Acid  Upon  Strychnine.  {^°££*m** 
The  distillates  were  tested  for  acrolein  by  shaking  with  water, 
separating  the  watery  layer,  making  alkaline  with  ammonium 
hydrate,  and  heating  with  silver  nitrate  on  a  water  bath.  A  reduc- 
tion of  the  silver  salt  took  place  with  the  formation  of  a  mirror  on  the 
sides  of  the  test  tube.  The  water,  which  had  been  agitated  with 
the  distillate,  was  also  examined  for  formic  acid  by  the  mercuric 
chloride  test.  After  keeping  the  test  hot  for  some  time  no  white 
precipitate  was  formed,  indicating  no  reduction  of  the  mercuric 
compound,  and  therefore  an  absence  of  formic  acid. 
It  is  believed,  therefore,  that  acrolein  is  a  product  of  decompo- 
sition of  the  gum  during  distillation.  And  it  seems  reasonable  that 
the  water  which  collects  in  the  receiver  during  the  distillation  is 
also  a  product  of  decomposition. 
These  points,  considered  jointly,  would  seem  to  indicate  some  rela- 
tion between  the  so-called  gum  and  the  higher  fatty  acids  or  fats, 
although  the  empirical  formula  found  by  combustion  does  not  coin- 
cide with  the  general  formula  of  the  acids  of  either  the  paraffin, 
olefine,  or  acetylene  series. 
If  we  suppose  it  to  be  an  acid  similar  to  those  just  mentioned,  the 
general  formula  of  the  class  to  which  it  would  belong  would  be 
Cn^2n-8  02. 
The  flash  point  of  the  gum  was  found  to  be  1830  C,  and  its  burn- 
ing point  1900  C. 
Its  iodine  value  was  46-39,  and  its  saponification  equivalent  was 
15-10. 
'  ON  THE  ACTION  OF  SULPHURIC  ACID  UPON  STRYCH- 
NINE IN  THE  SEPARATION  OF  THIS  ALKALOID 
FROM  ORGANIC  MATTER.1 
By  B.  H.  S.  Bailey  and  Wm.  Lange. 
In  the  separation  of  the  alkaloids  from  organic  matter  in  the  or- 
dinary toxicological  examinations,  it  has  been  found  convenient  to 
purify  the  alkaloid  from  the  last  portions  of  organic  matter  by 
evaporation  of  the  partially  purified  material  with  a  drop  or  two  of 
strong  sulphuric  acid,  and  the  question  has  arisen — to  what  extent 
does  this  operation  destroy  the  alkaloid.    The  concentrated  acid 
destroys  the  organic  matter,  and  it  would  be  strange  if  it  did  not, 
4  Kan   Univ.  Qnar.,  Vol.  VI,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1897,  Series  A. 
