1 7  2  Constituents  of  Sanguinaria.         { kMmjg3g'3gm' 
evaporation  of  a  small  quantity  of  the  solution.  The  solution  thus 
obtained  was  a  light  yellowish-red  color,  exhibiting  a  very  handsome 
fluorescence.  Concentrated  muriatic  acid  was  then  heated,  and  the 
gas  thus  given  off  was  passed  into  the  etherial  solution  by  means  of  a 
glass  tube,  until  it  was  saturated,  when  a  voluminous  scarlet  precipitate  of 
muriate  of  sanguinarina  was  formed.  By  this  means  all  of  the  alkaloid 
was  precipitated,  its  salts  being  wholly  insoluble  in  ether,  leaving  the  ether 
almost  colorless,  the  slight  color  present  being  due  to  a  small  quantity 
of  resin  held  in  solution.  The  muriate  of  sanguinarina  was  purified  by 
dissolving  in  hot  water,  filtering,  precipitating  by  ammonia,  drying  the 
precipitate,  and  dissolving  in  ether.  This  solution,  treated  with  animal 
charcoal,  and  then  with  hydrochloric  acid  gas,  as  before,  gave  the 
muriate  pure.  The  precipitate  (b)  after  having  been  exhausted  with 
ether  was  dried  and  treated  with  the  alcohol  ;  a  deep  red  tincture  was 
obtained.  This  diluted  with  water,  a  resinous  matter  was  thrown 
down  ;  the  mother-liquor,  containing  a  small  quantity  of  sanguinarina 
not  removed  bv  the  ether  of  first  treatment,  was  precipitated  by  Mayer's 
test.  The  filtrate  (a)  was  then  neutralized  by  acetic  acid,  and  a  strong 
solution  of  tannic  acid  added  as  long  as  any  precipitate  was  formed  ; 
this  was  separated  by  a  filter,  and  washed  until  the  washings  were  taste- 
less, then  thoroughly  dried,  and  digested  with  an  alcoholic  solution  of 
hydrate  of  potassium  as  long  as  anything  was  dissolved.  The  tannate 
of  potash  thus  formed  separated  as  a  dark  brown  mass,  it  being  insol- 
uble in  alcohol,  which  held  the  alkaloid  in  solution,  together  with  an 
excess  of  hydrate  of  potash.  This  excess  was  removed  by  passing 
carbon  dioxide  into  the  solution,  forming  carbonate  of  potash,  insol- 
uble in  alcohol.  The  solution  was  then  decanted  from  any  insoluble 
matter,  and  the  spirit  removed  by  distillation.  The  residue  was  then 
dissolved  in  ether,  from  which  the  so-called  u  Porphyroxin"  separated, 
on  evaporation,  as  a  dirty,  white,  crystalline  mass.  By  solution  in 
alcohol,  and  treatment  with  animal  charcoal,  it  was  obtained  on  con- 
centrating the  solution,  in  minute,  nearly  colorless,  tabular  crystals,  of 
a  bitter  taste,  and  very  sparingly  soluble  in  water,  more  readily  so  in 
alcohol.  It  is  wholly  dissipated  by  heat,  giving  off*  a  peculiar  odor 
when  burning,  and  possessing  an  alkaline  reaction.  It  neutralizes  acids, 
forming  with  them  salts,  the  hydrochlorate  being  in  the  form  of  cauli- 
fiower-like  masses,  owing  to  the  arrangement  of  the  crystals.  But  a 
few  grains  of  this  alkaloid  were  obtained  from  a  pound  of  root.  It 
