472 
VARIETIES. 
part  of  benzole  at  23°  0.  dissolved  0*22  parts  of  stearic  acid ; 
and  one  part  of  sulphide  of  carbon  at  23°  dissolved  0*3  of  stearic 
acid.  This  acid  is  consequently  less  soluble  in  the  above  men- 
strua than  paraffine.  A  mixture  of  stearic  acid  and  paraffine  fused 
together  did  not  separate  from  these  solutions  in  a  homogeneous 
mass,  but  in  two  layers,  the  stearic  acid  appearing  in  distinct 
crystals.  This  may  suggest  a  method  of  recognizing  the  presence 
of  stearic  acid  in  a  mixture  with  paraffine — Druggists  Circular, 
June,  1866. 
Alkaloid  in  Arnica. — According  to  M.  Hesse,  the  alkaloid  discovered  in 
arnica  flowers  by  M.  Peretti,  by  distilling  them  with  caustic  potassa,  is  but 
a  mixture  of  ammonia  and  trymethylamina  in  solution  in  water.  [Does 
not  this  infer  the  existence  of  a  natural  alkaloid  decomposed  by  the  action 
of  potassa? — Ed.  Am.  Jour.  Pharm/] — Jour,  de  Pharm.  Avril,  1864. 
Narceia. — M.  Hesse  (Ann.  der  CJiem.  und  Pharm.')  makes  the  following 
statement  in  regard  to  this  hitherto  illy  known  substance  of  opium :  At 
293°  F.  narceia  enters  into  fusion,  colors  slightly  yellow,  and  by  cooling 
concretes.  At  a  more  elevated  temperature  it  emits  alkaline  vapors  having 
the  odor  of  pickle,  and  takes  a  brown  color.  It  cedes  to  water  after  this 
a  little  of  a  substance  which  colors  it  blue,  and  which  is  insoluble  in 
ether. 
It  is  soluble  in  boiling  water,  in  alcohol,  and  in  hot  weak  acetic  acid, 
and  requires,  at  66°  F.,  1285  parta  of  water,  945  parts  of  alcohol  80  per 
cent.,  and  800  parts  diluted  acetic  acid.  Heated  with  SO3,  HO  it  becomes 
black,  and  not  green  as  stated.  At  ebullition  narceia  dissolves  easily  in 
diluted  sulphuric  acid,  and  crystallizes  in  prisms  afterwards,  in  the  state 
of  sulphate,  which  are  slowly  decomposed  in  the  presence  of  cold  water, — 
a  change  which  is  instantaneous  by  aid  of  heat. 
The  picrate  is  formed  directly  ;  it  is  a  yellow  oily  matter,  soluble  in  hot 
water.  The  tannate  is  in  grey  flocks,  only  slightly  soluble  in  water.  Bi- 
chloride of  mercury  forms  in  a  concentrated  solution  of  hydrochlorate  of 
narceia  an  oleaginous  precipitate,  which  becomes  crystalline  in  the  form  of 
short  prisms,  insoluble  in  SO3,  HO,  and  but  little  soluble  in  hydrochloric 
acid  and  in  boiling  water. 
Similar  compounds  are  found  with  bichloride  of  platinum  and  of  gold. 
