'^""june^ifss^"''''}       Elixir  of  Theine  Hydrobromate.  281 
Meanwhile,  manufacturers  frankly  say  that  they  make  both  their 
theine  and  caffeine  from  tea  leaves,  and  if  theine  is  called  for  they  give 
theine,  or  if  caffeine  is  desired,  they  give  the  same,  so  that  it  is  safe  to 
assert  that  many  of  the  statements  made  concerning  the  superiority  of 
one  of  the  alkaloids  over  the  other,  are  open  to  serious  question,  unless 
the  true  source  of  the  alkaloid  used  is  known. 
Hypodermically,  theine  has  been  highly  lauded  in  the  treatment  of 
rheumatic  and  other  troubles,  especially  by  Dr.  Thos.  J.  Mays,  of  this 
city,  who  strongly  urges  the  use  of  a  hypodermic  solution  of  theine, 
somewhat  analogous  in  composition  to  Tanret's,  but  containing,  in 
addition,  sodium  chloride.  As  this  solution  may  not  be  generally 
known  among  pharmacists,  its  formula  may  be  of  value.  It  is  as 
follows :  Triturate  theine,  64  grains,  with  sodium  benzoate,  60  grains, 
and  sodium  chloride,  10  grains ;  adding  sufficient  distilled  water  to 
measure,  after  filtration,  one  fluidounce.  Filter.  Every  five 
minims  contain  two-thirds  of  a  grain  of  theine.  Dose,  five  to 
fifteen  minims. 
Of  the  various  salts  of  caffeine,  or  theine  more  correctly,  found  in 
commerce,  the  so-called  citrate  is  the  one  most  largely  used,  then 
follows  the  alkaloid,  and  then  in  minor  quantities,  the  benzoate,  ni- 
trate, hydrochlorate,  valerianate,  salicylate,  sulphate,  tannate  and 
hydrobromate. 
In  regard  to  the  salts  of  caffeine  or  theine,  Gmelin^  states  that  caffeine 
forms  with  SO4  an  acid  and  a  normal  salt,  which  dissolve  more 
easily  in  water  than  in  alcohol,  but  which  solutions  evaporated,  pre- 
cipitate out  the  alkaloid  and  not  the  sulphates ;  with  HCl  caffeine 
forms  a  hydrochlorate  which,  on  the  addition  of  water  or  alcohol,  crys- 
tallizes out  a  considerable  quantity  of  hyd rated  caffeine  ;  with  HNO3 
there  is  formed  a  definite  compound,  which  solution,  on  evaporation, 
similarly  precipitates  its  combined  caffeine. 
Likewise,  in  regard  to  the  solution  of  the  hydrobromate,  the 
writer  has  found  that  if  it  be  evaporated,  almost  all  the  caffeine  will  be 
precipitated  out,  letting  free  the  combined  hydrobromic  acid. 
These  statements  would  indicate  then,  that  the  chemical  affinity 
between  the  alkaloid  and  the  acid  is  but  a  feeble  one  at  best,  and  that 
a  solution  made  from  the  two  is  far  better  than  a  solution  made  direct 
from  the  ordinary  commercial  salt. 
E.  Merck  of  Darmstadt,  in  his  April  bulletin  calls  them  all  true 
1  Gmelin,  (Cavendish  edit.)  vol.  13,  p.  232. 
