The cardboard box contains 4 labelled glass vials and 1 handwritten note on paper.

The inscription on the box reads:

'alkaloids from Chekiang pei mu 貝母 (Fritillaria Thunbergi), origin not given, from J.D. Bernal via Eileen, Jan 72'

The note inside reads:

'浙貝母 (pei- mu)- chinese drug. Fritillaria thunbergii miq. Peimine base - one of the alkaloids, from fritillaria thunbergii miq.

C8H11N ricrate, m.p. 165o - may be a new collioline from peimine by Zn duet distillation.

C22H2O, m.p. 167-8o - a hydrocarbon from Zn-Se dehydroqualine of peimine.

C18H14, m.p 112-3o (less pure, the m.p of pure specimen = 115-6o) 2nd hydrocarbon from Zn-Se dehydrogenation of peimine'.

The inside note might have been written by J.D. Bernal.

One glass vial is from 中國科學院有機化學研究所 (Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences).