ACTION OP ACIDS ON QUINIA. 
211 
monia, may be erroneous; and even the opinion of M. Du- 
mas, which considers it as well as other organic alkaloids as 
basic amide (amides basiques) may be thought doubtful, since 
hitherto the vegetable alkalies have not presented the reac- 
tions of the amides with acids, alkaline oxides and water. At 
the same time it is true that the composition of quinia and all 
the organic bases render these hypotheses probable. 
It is generally agreed at the present day that these com- 
pounds exist in a formed state, and it has been ascertained 
that their alkalinity is not dependent on the presence of the 
alkaline oxides employed in their extraction; but it may be 
supposed that they have all a common radical, of which azote 
forms part, whether this radical is represented by the elements 
of ammonia, or by those of an amide, is yet undetermined. 
M. Liebig has shown that each atom of an organic alkali con- 
tains the same number of atoms of azote; that, moreover, the 
law of composition of salts of these bases follows that of the 
ammoniacal salts, and although he does not consider the elec- 
tro-positive radical as formed by ammonia, we cannot avoid 
perceiving its close approximation. 
•fiction of chlorine on quinia. M. Andre in subjecting 
quinia or one of its salts to the action of chlorine, thought that 
he remarked a peculiar alteration, not perceptible with the 
other vegetable alkalies, and which serve to characterize this 
organic base. He has seen quinia, when thus treated, pre- 
sent marked and characteristic phenomena. 
"When a small quantity of liquid chlorine is added to an 
aqueous solution of quinia, or of one of its salts, except the 
sulphite, the solution becomes of a light brown colour; if an 
excess of acid is present, and consequently the fluid has a 
blueish colour, this is destroyed. The chlorine first combines 
with ammonia united to the resin, and this becoming freed 
and in suspension in the liquid, this latter assumes a feeble 
blue tinge; but, on adding an excess of chlorine, this dis- 
solves the suspended resin, and the colour disappears or rather 
changes to a yellowish hue. Having wished to precipitate 
