96 
Analysis  of  Hicinus  Communis. 
Am.  Jour.Pharm, 
Jan..  1888. 
washed  of  adhering  coloring  matter  with  ether  in  which  thev  were  al- 
most insoluble. 
To  obtain  more  of  the  crystals,  a  ciuantity  of  tlie  drug  was  extracted 
with  alcohol,  the  solution  evaporated,  and  the  crystalline  principle 
separated  from  the  wax  and  resin  by  acidulated .  water,  and  agitation 
with  chloroform  as  before,  and  purified  by  repeated  solution  in  hot  al- 
cohol and  precipitation  by  ether.  The  crystals  were  soluble  in  water, 
alcohol  and  chloroform ;  gave  no  reaction  when  treated  with  Maver's 
reagent  and  other  alkaloidal  precipitants,  excepting  the  tri-iodide  of 
potassium.  They  melt  at  194°  C. ;  have  a  bitter  taste,  and  are  colored 
green  with  HoSO^  and  KoCroO^.  In  testing  for  glucosides  the  results 
were  negative.  When  heated  with  caustic  soda  a  decided  reaction  for 
ammonia  was  obtained,  thtis  showing  the  presence  of  nitrogen.  The 
crystals  responded  to  the  tests  for  ricinin,  so  named  by  Prof.  Tuson, 
who  found  it  in  the  seed  and  considered  it  an  alkaloid  (American 
JoTJiiis'AL  OF  Phaemacy,  1864,  p.  423);  it  was  also  found  in  the 
leaves  by  Prof.  E.  S.  Wayne,  who  states  that  it  has  no  claims  to 
be  called  an  alkaloid.  (Ameeicax  Joue^'AL  of  Phahmacy, 
1874,  p.  97). 
With  a  view  of  determining  its  ultimate  composition,  three  combus- 
tions were  made  for  the  estimation  of  the  carbon  and  hydrogen,  and 
two  with  soda-lime  for  nitrogen,  estimating  oxygen  by  difference.  The 
results  would  indicate  ricinine  to  be  an  alkaloid,  having  the  formula 
EICINIXE. 
FOUND. 
CALCULATED 
^241132^7 
FIBST. 
SECOND. 
Carbon  
62-00 
687 
62-03 
7.55 
21-00 
9-42 
61-81 
6-87 
21  02 
10-30 
Oxygen  
10-13 
LOO- 
100- 
100- 
Distilled  water  extracted  from  the  powder  18*479  per  cent.,  which, 
on  ignition,  left  an  ash  amounting  to  5*78  per  cent.  A  portion 
mixed  with  two  volumes  of  alcohol  and  allowed  to  stand  twenty- 
four  hom's,  precipitated  mucilage  and  albumin  amounting  to  4*915 
per  cent.    The  filtrate  evaporated  to  a  syrup  and  mixed  with  four 
