148 
Veratrum  Viride. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Mar.  1876. 
obtained.  The  whole  of  these  impure  products  were  mixed  together, 
dried,  redissolved  in  acetic  acid  and  precipitated  by  caustic  soda.  After 
washing  and  pressing  between  folds  of  bibulous  paper,  it  was  dissolved 
in  alcohol,  digested  with  animal  charcoal,  filtered,  and  evaporated  to 
dryness.  A  semi-crystalline  mass  was  obtained,  weighing  thirty  grains 
(from  one  pound  of  root). 
The  alkaloid  was  powdered  and  digested  with  washed  ether.  The 
ethereal  solution  left  on  evaporation  a  light-colored  resinous  coating 
adhering  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  capsule,  with  a  crystalline  deposit 
at  the  bottom. 
This  product  weighed  eight  grains,  and  represents  the  supposed 
^Veratroidia"  existing  in  the  drug,  and  should  also  contain  veratria,  if 
any  was  present.  An  examination  of  its  character  was  made  as  fol- 
lows :  . 
Treated  with  warm  dilute  acetic  acid,  it  afforded  a  turbid  solution, 
with  finely  divided  insoluble  matter  held  in  suspension.  After  filtra- 
tion, it  was  precipitated  by  caustic  soda,  and  the  precipitate  washed  in 
a  filter  with  a  warm  solution  of  soda.  The  alkaline  washings  (A)  were 
reserved,  and  the  alkaloid  washed  with  water  to  remove  the  alkali, 
pressed  and  dried.1 
Character  of  the  Precipitate. — When  dry,  it  had  a  light  yellow  color. 
A  portion  dissolved  in  acetic  acid  (the  acid  being  in  excess)  gave  with 
a  solution  of  nitrate  of  potassium  an  abundant  precipitate  characteristic 
of  jervia.  This  precipitate  dissolved  on  heating  the  solution,  and  crys- 
tallized out  on  cooling. 
Heated  on  platinum  foil,  it  charred  and  left  a  residue  when  incinerated 
to  whiteness  ;  the  grey  ash  dissolved  without  effervescence  in  dilute 
nitric  acid  ;  this  solution  was  divided  into  two  portions.  To  one  was 
added  ammonia  and  oxalate  of  ammonia  ;  the  usual  reaction  of  lime 
was  obtained.  To  the  other  acid  portion  a  solution  of  molybdate  of 
ammonia  was  added  ;  after  standing  two  hours,  a  deposit  of  phospho- 
molybdic  acid  was  obtained. 
The  alkaline  washings  (A),  after  neutralization  with  hydrochloric 
acid,  were  evaporated  to  dryness,  the  product  powdered  and  exhausted 
with  ether.  The  ether  left,  on  evaporation,  a  small  amount  of  resin- 
ous matter,  which  gave  the  following  color  reactions : 
1  An  after  examination  of  the  soda  by  alcohol  used,  showed  it  to  contain  traces 
of  alumina  and  magnesia. 
