824 Analysis of the Root of the Bryonia alba. 



mists, namely, by Vauquelin, Brandes, and Feirnhaber ; but the 

 most complete analysis hitherto made, is one by M. Dulong of 

 Astafort, related in the Journal de Pharmacie. He has found 

 it to consist of a large quantity of fecula, a small quantity of 

 fatty matter, resin, and vegetable albumen ; some gum, a consi- 

 derable proportion of submalate of lime, a little carbonate of 

 lime, some other salts in minute quantity, and a bitter matter, 

 possessing peculiar chemical properties, and endowed with all 

 the poisonous qualities of the root. 



This bitter principle is contained in the juice, so that the fe- 

 cula may be separated from it entirely by the usual process. 

 The fecula, when properly washed, possesses all the properties 

 of that procured from the different kinds of grains ; and, conse- 

 quently, as the quantity i^ large, and the roots are of enormous 

 size, compared to the stem (being often a foot long, and three or 

 four inches in diameter), M. Dulong thinks that the extraction 

 of the fecula may be made a subject of profit, at least in years 

 of scarcity. The bitter principle is solid, soft, and a little vis- 

 cous, ""excessively bitter, soluble in water and in alcohol, but 

 quite insoluble in sulphuric ether ; and its solutions have no ac- 

 tion on the vegetable colours. Its aqueous solution is precipi- 

 tated by infusion of galls, subacetate of lead, proto-nitrate of 

 mercury, nitrate of silver, and hydrochlorate of gold. Acetate 

 of lead, nitrate of lead, proto-hydrochlorate of tin, and tartar 

 emetic, have no effect on it. The acids dissolve, and alter it, 

 rendering it insoluble in water. The concentrated sulphuric 

 acid forms with it a rich green, nitric acid a golden-yellow, and 

 hydrochloric acid a reddish-brown fluid ; and the affusion of 

 water throws down precipitates possessing the colour of each solu- 

 tion. In its general properties M. Dulong considers it as closely 

 allied to the coloquintine, a resinoid matter, which is procured 

 from another of the same order of poisons, the colocynth, and 

 which, like the bitter principle of bryony, concentrates in itself 

 the whole qualities of the raw material. — Journal de Pharmacie^ 

 Mars\SW. 



7. General Treussart on the preparation of Hydraulic Cements. 



General Treussart, referring to some observations pubhshed 

 at St Petersburg in 1822 by M. Raucourt, and to some experi- 



