260 
Detection  of  Morphine  in  Quinine. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm^ 
t      May,  1883. 
the  former  gave  16*7  per  cent,  platinum,  the  latter  36*9  per  cent,  gold,, 
pohiting  to  a  composition  for  the  former  of 
(C,,H„NO,),(HCl),PtCl„ 
for  the  latter  (Ci2Hj4N02)2HCl(AuCl3)2,  these  requiring  respectively 
16*4  platinum  and  37*4  gold. 
The  main  features  of  this  as  differing  from  previous  researches  show 
— (1)  that  the  alkaloid  gelsemine  can  be  obtained  in  a  state  of  purity 
as  a  crystalline  colorless  solid,  forming  crystalline  salts  with  acids,  and 
giving  no  color  reactions  with  nitric  or  sulphuric  acids  ;  (2)  that  the 
pure  base  has  the  formula  C12H14NO2,  thus  differing  greatly  from  the 
formula  obtained  by  Sonnenschein,  who,  it  is  certain,  must  have  used 
an  impure  substance,  as  shown  by  the  color  reactions  his  alkaloid  gave 
with  nitric  and  sulphuric  acids. 
Forensic  Note. — In  cases  of  poisoning  by  gelseminum,  where  the 
resin,  extract,  or  tincture  have  been  emj^loyed,  no  difficulty  need  be 
experienced  in  detecting  its  presence,  all  these  preparations  containing^ 
gelseminic  acid,  which  imparts  its  powerful  blue  fluorescence  to  any 
mixture  on  the  addition  of  an  alkali.  When  the  alkaloid  gelsemine 
has  to  be  sought,  its  isolation  can  be  effected  by  any  of  the  methods 
followed  for  strychnine,  especially  taking  advantage  of  the  fact  that 
gelsemine  like  strychnine  is  not  destroyed  by  strong  sulphuric  acid. 
After  isolation,  and  showing  its  alkaline  and  alkaloidal  nature,  its  most 
special  reaction  would  be  the  red  color  with  sulphuric  acid  and  man- 
ganic oxide.  These  characters  alone  should  scarcely  be  deemed  sufficient 
evidence  of  its  presence.  In  addition,  its  physiological  action  should 
be  sought  and  demonstrated  ;  if  this  be  obtained  it  may  be  concluded 
gelsemine  is  present. 
.  Detection  of  Morphine  in  ftuinine.— Brand  directs  attention  to^ 
an  extremely  delicate  and  readily  applied  test  which  was  first  recom- 
mended nearly  twelve  years  ago  (see  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1872,  p.  540)^ 
and  which  is  as  follows:  A  mixture  is  made  of  6  drops  of  solution  of 
ferric  chloride  sp.  gr.  1'480  and  25  gm.  of  water;  add  to  15  drops  of 
this  liquid  in  a  porcelain  dish  3  drops  of  a  solution  of  0.1  gm.  potas- 
sium ferricyanide  in  15  gm.  of  water.  This  mixture  is  of  a  brownisk 
color,  and  in  about  ]  5  minutes  becomes  greenish  ;  on  the  addition  of  a 
little  quinine  salt  or  of  a  neutral  solution  of  it,  there  is  instantly  pro- 
duced a  blue  precipitate  in  case  of  contamination  with  a  mere  trace  of 
morphine.— P/ia/'.  Zeiiung,  1883,  W.  20. 
