

Chemical Science. 177 



from these solutions in acid, and crystallized, by leaving pieces of 

 charcoal, phosphorus, &c., in them. Ed. 



12. SALICINE ITS POWER AS A FEBRIFUGE. (Leroux.) 



A very important Memoir by M. Leroux, which was presented to 

 the Academy of Sciences, has been most favourably reported upon 

 by MM. Gay Lussac and Majendie. It relates to nothing less than 

 the discovery of a principle in indigenous plants which may replace 

 quinia and cinchonia as medical remedies. Being aware that the 

 willow had been employed advantageously as a bitter and febrifuge, 

 M. Leroux sought in it for some active principle, and ultimately 

 sent two preparations to the Academy, one called salicine, the other 

 sulphate of salicine. He at first thought the new principle was a 

 vegeto-alkali, but when afterwards in Paris, he convinced himself 

 that it had no power of neutralizing acids, did not combine with 

 them, was rendered uncrystallizable by them, contained no nitrogen, 

 and was not a vegeto-alkali. The sulphate was a mistake. 



Salicine is in the form of very fine nacreous white crystals, very 

 soluble in water and alcohol, but not in ether; it is very bitter, and 

 partakes of the odour of willow bark. In order to obtain it, three 

 pounds of the bark of the willow (salix helix), dried and pulverized, is 

 to be boiled in fifteen pounds of water, with four ounces of carbonate 

 of potash, for an hour ; it is to be filtered, and, when cold, two 

 pounds of solution of sub-acetate of lead added: when settled, it is 

 to be filtered, treated with sulphuric acid, the rest of the lead pre- 

 cipitated by sulphuretted hydrogen, the excess of acid neutralized by 

 carbonate of lime, again filtered, the liquid concentrated and satu- 

 rated by dilute sulphuric acid, then boiled with animal charcoal to 

 remove colour, filtered hot, crystallized repeatedly, and dried with- 

 out access of light. About one ounce of salicine will be obtained 

 in the large way; probably twice the quantity would result, for great 

 loss is occasioned by the above numerous operations. It may be pre- 

 served in well-closed bottles, and does riot attract moisture. 



As to the medicinal powers of this substance, M. Majendie states, 

 that his own experience of its effects in intermitting fevers is 

 favourable, and that he has seen three doses, of six grains each, stop 

 a fever. He quotes the experiments of MM. Miquel, Husson, 

 Bally, Girardin, Cognon, &c,, at the hospitals and elsewhere, in its 

 favour : they all agree in its anti-febrile power, and in stating that 

 from twenty-four to thirty grains of salicine will arrest the return of 

 the fever, whatever may be its kind. This is nearly the same as the 

 dose of the sulphate of quinia. 



In concluding, the commissioners state, that M. Leroux has 

 discovered in the willow (salix helix), a crystal I izable principle 

 which approaches sulphate of quinia in its anti-febrile power, 

 and that this discovery is, without contradiction, one of the most 



VOL, I. OCT. 1830. N 



