262  Alkaloids  of  the  Death  Camas.  {^^Iml^' 
ceased.  The  solution  was  decanted  and  fresh  acid  added,  but  as  the 
reaction  was  very  weak  the  mixture  was  heated.  Even  then  a  large 
amount  remained  undissolved.  A  few  drops  of  copper  sulphate 
solution  were  added  and  digested  for  several  days,  but  a  large  amount 
remained  insoluble.  This  was  washed  with  water  until  free  from 
acid,  dried,  and  percolated  with  ether,  which  upon  evaporation  left 
a  colorless  oil.  Upon  removing  the  ether  the  zinc  dissolved  without 
difficulty  in  hydrochloric  acid,  conclusively  proving  that  this  sample 
contained  no  carbon,  and  that  the  insolubility  was  due  to  the  pres- 
ence of  the  oil. 
Pharmaceutical  Institute,  Bern, 
April  18,  1905. 
SOME  ALKALOIDS  OF  THE  DEATH  CAMAS. 
By  Henry  B.  Si,ade. 
The  death  camas,  the  Wa-i-mas  of  the  Nez  Perce  Indians,  has 
long  been  known  as  a  powerful  drug,  and  has  been  the  subject  of  a 
number  of  chemical  and  pharmacological  investigations.  At  the 
suggestion  of  Prof.  V.  K.  Chesnut,  who  had  isolated  a  veratrine-like 
alkaloid  from  the  leaves  of  Zygadernns  venonosus  while  in  charge  of 
the  investigation  of  poisonous  plants  in  the  U.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture,  an  examination  of  the  bulbs  has  been  made  and  the 
results  of  a  short  study  are  here  given  in  brief. 
Fifty  grams  of  the  air-dried  powdered  bulbs,  representing  some 
250  grams  of  fresh  material,  were  extracted  with  ether,  which 
yielded  a  crop  of  fine  needle-like  crystals  along  with  yellow  amor- 
phous matter.  These  crystals,  with  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  gave 
a  fine  violet  coloration,  developing  from  a  yellow  color.  Their 
solubility  in  ether,  separation  in  crystalline  form  and  color  reaction 
with  sulphuric  acid,  suggest  sabadine.  The  solution  of  crystals  in 
ether,  together  with  impurities,  was  shaken  with  a  weak  solution  of 
tartaric  acid  in  water,  whereby  the  alkaloid  was  taken  up  in  the 
water  solution,  while  the  fats,  coloring  matters  and  other  impuri- 
ties were  left  in  the  ether.  The  solution  of  the  alkaloid  was  acidu- 
lated with  sulphuric  acid  to  strong  acid  reaction,  and  the  alkaloid 
precipitated  with  phospho-tungstic  acid.  The  moist  precipitate  was 
mixed  with  sodium  carbonate,  which  set  free  the  alkaloid  from  its 
combination  with  the  acid,  and  the  alkaloid  recovered  by  taking  up 
