Am.  Jonr.  Pharm. 
Aug.,  1892. 
D  igitalin. 
415 
A  characteristic  reaction  for  aconitine  is  obtained  by  adding 
to  it  in  small  quantities  a  solution  of  potassium  permanganate 
in  sulphuric  acid  (1  :  200)  and  stirring;  the  green  color  of  the 
reagent  is  replaced  by  a  violet-tint,  which  disappears  on  further 
agitation,  and  is  restored  on  adding  more  of  the  reagent,  and  so  on. 
A  point  is  ultimately  reached  at  which  the  color  is  not  affected  by 
agitation,  but  at  once  disappears  on  diluting  with  water. 
Clear  indications  of  the  presence  of  hydrastine  in  putrid  animal 
matter  cannot  be  obtained  if  the  latter  is  treated  by  the  Stas-Otto 
method,  on  account  of  the  ptomaines  and  other  impurities  contained 
in  the  extract. 
Hydrastine  is,  however,  extracted  from  alkaline,  but  not  from 
acid,  solutions  by  light  petroleum,  and,  by  taking  advantage  of  this 
fact,  and  substituting  baryta  for  sodium  carbonate,  and  light  petro- 
leum for  ether,  in  the  extraction,  it  is  possible  to  isolate  the  alkaloid 
in  a  state  of  sufficient  purity.  The  author  recommends  the  use  of 
light  petroleum  in  place  of  chloroform,  ether,  or  amyl  alcohol  in 
the  extraction  of  alkaloids  from  urine  and  animal  remains,  as  they 
are  nearly  all  soluble  in  that  menstruum  (the  exceptions  are 
morphine,  curarine,  and  pilocarpine)  whilst  ptomaines,  leucomaines, 
pigments,  and  extractive  matters  are  insoluble. 
DIGITALIN.1 
By  H.  Kiliani. 
Hitherto  the  numerous  attempts  to  obtain  the  pharmacologically 
important  constituents  of  Digitalis  purpurea  in  a  state  of  chemical 
purity  and  in  a  crystalline  condition  have  been  without  any  practi- 
cal result.  Nativelle2  believed  that  he  had  been  successful  in 
attaining  that  object,  and  for  some  time  a  preparation,  made 
according  to  his  directions,  was  used,  especially  in  France ;  but  it 
was  afterwards  given  up,  since  it  proved  to  be  irregular  in  its  action 
and  indeed  even  hurtful.  The  "  digitaline  crystallise  "  of  Nativelle 
was  not  a  homogeneous  substance,  and  in  that  respect  it  resembled 
all  the  other  substances  which  have  been  introduced  into  commerce 
under  the  same  or  similar  names.    The  recognition  of  this  fact  is 
1  Archiv  der  Pharm.,  230,  p.  250 ;  reprinted  from  Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans. 
June  25,  1892,  p.  1061. 
2  Journ.  de  Pharm.,  iv,  9,  253  ;  16,  430  ;  20,  87. 
