204 Dr. Hodges on the Pharmaceutical and Chemical 



it produced no change. In seven hours specific gravity had not 

 increased. In nine hours no change. The maceration having 

 been continued for twelve hours longer, the density vi^as not 

 increased. The filtered liquid had a rich orange brown colour, 

 was neutral to litmus, and possessed the smell and taste of the 

 leaves. The following reagents were applied. Solution of 

 gelatine, tartar-emetic, and perchloride of mercury produced 

 no change. 



Tinct. ferri muriat. |^^^P black colouring and dark olive 



[_ precipitate. 

 Acetate of lead . .~\ g^ . ,, . .^ ^ 



Infusion of nutgalls | ^°i^^«"^ ^^"^'^ y^"°^ precipitates. 

 Sulphuric acid . . ] 



Nitric acid . . . > Brown-yellow precipitates. 

 Muriatic acid • .J 



Caustic potash deepened its colour without throwing down 

 a precipitate. Returned the liquid to the leaves and added 

 6 oz. cold distilled water, which reduced its specific gravity to 

 1*003. In three hours its density had not increased; poured 

 off' the liquid without expression and macerated the same 

 leaves in 6 oz. cold water. In three hours the liquid had a 

 light yellow colour and specific gravity 1 '002 ; gave a very 

 minute deposit with acetate of lead. Poured off the liquid 

 and macerated for fourteen hours in the same quantity of 

 water; specific gravity 1*000. 



Experiment 2. — Infused half an ounce of the sub-pulverized 

 leaves in 6 oz. boiling water. In three hours the liquid had 

 the same taste and colour, and exhibited the same reactions as 

 the cold infusion; specific gravity 1*006. 



Experiment 3. — Exhausted 1^ oz. of the leaves by boiling 

 with distilled water over a water-bath and evaporating the fil- 

 tered decoction to the consistence of an extract. The quan- 

 tity of extract procured weighed 120 grains. It had a dark 

 brown colour and bitter astringent taste, and possessed very 

 little of the aromatic qualities of the leaves. 



Experiment 4.— Introduced 3 oz. of the Matico leaves on a 

 perforated metal support into a tin plate still with about two 

 quarts of water and heated over the fire of a table furnace, 

 adding fresh water occasionally to supply the loss. A milky 

 liquid was given off possessing a strong aromatic camphoric 

 odour, and tasting something like a mixture of oil of rosemary 

 and oil of cubebs. It contained a considerable quantity of 

 heavy oil of a light green colour, which slowly subsided to the 

 bottom of the recipient. By returning the milky liquid to 

 the still and distilling again with 2 oz. of fresh leaves, a liquid 



