Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
Mar.,  1879.  J 
Cinchona  Alkaloids. 
133 
quently  is  less  soluble  in  it  than  any  other  sulphocyanide  of  the  cinchona 
alkaloids.  Besides  this,  it  passed  very  rapidly  from  its  amorphous  into  the 
crystalline  condition,  so  that  the  characteristic  forms  are  readily  produced. 
The  crystals,  obtained  from  the  dilute  solution  are  flat,  stellately  grouped 
needles  ;  but  if  their  development  is  interfered  with,  as  in  the  micro- 
scopic test  in  question,  where  they  are  formed  between  two  plates  of 
glass,  the  groups  frequently  assume  a  dendritic  appearance,  and  from 
moderately  dilute  solutions,  flat  needles  in  stellate  groups  are  likewise 
produced,  sometimes  also  isolated  prisms,  and  occasionally  elongated 
six-sided  scales  attached  to  the  branches  of  the  dendriform  groups. 
Sulphate  of  Cinchonia. — If  a  cold  saturated  aqueous  solution  of 
this  sulphate  is  treated  at  ordinary  temperature  with  sulphocyanide  of 
potassium  a  white  curdy  precipitate  is  produced,  while  with  a  moder- 
ately warm  dilute  solution,  pretty  prisms  and  scales  are  formed,  the 
latter  being  generally  six-sided,  the  former  four-sided  and  either 
truncate  or  pointed.  As  in  the  previous  cases,  a  small  excess  of  sulpho- 
cyanide of  potassium  facilitates  the  entire  precipitation  of  cinchonia 
from  the  neutral  sulphate  solutions.  Under  the  lens  it  is  demonstrated 
that  the  crystal-groups  of  the  sulphocyanide  of  cinchonia  go  through 
the  same  process  of  formation  as  sulphocyanide  of  quinidia,  and  it  is 
most  likely  due  to  its  greater  solubility  that  the  crystals  are  better 
developed.  Larger  crystals  are  formed,  and  others  are  frequently 
attached  in  certain  directions  producing  dendritic  forms,  sometimes  fan- 
like groups  and  single  prisms.  The  asserted  resemblance  to  equisetum, 
grass,  slate-like  formations  and  antlers  appears  to  be  of  little  value. 
In  regard  to  this  microscopic  test,  GodeffVoy  claims  that  it  would 
indicate  every  sophistication  or  impurity  of  the  sulphate  of  the  cinchona 
alkaloids  by  the  different  forms  of  the  crystals,  while  Schrage  con- 
siders it  merely  an  auxiliary  and  useful  reaction,  which  he  apparently 
had  considerable  trouble  to  comprehend.    This  is  probably  accounted 
Pharmacopoeia,  Kernefs  terminology  has  in  a  manner  been  legalized.  But,  for  the  same 
reason,  Schrage's  cinchonidia  should  be  called  quinidia.  However,  it  should  also  be 
remembered  that  in  i87oKerner  not  only  discarded  the  name/?  quinidia  for  this  alka- 
loid in  favor  of  concbinia,  but  also  expressed  the  hope  that  the  latter  designation  might  be 
accepted  in  view  of  the  simplification  and  greater  accuracy  of  the  nomenclature  of 
the  cinchona  bases.  I  am  well  awaie  that  this  name  is  not  favored  by  some  and  that 
in  France  and  England  it  is  at  once  translated  with  quinidia  5  but  I  trust  that  gradu- 
ally a  better  understanding  of  the  subject  in  question  will  be  had. 
