204 M, Vauquelin on the [March, 



a yellow precipitate which, being- put into alcohol, was dissolved 

 With the exception of a few particles, possessing all the proper- 

 ties of gum ; the yellow precipitate assumed a rose colour, with 

 a shade of violet, by the action of heated sulphuric acid. 



Thehquor from which the above-mentioned precipitates were 

 obtained was in its turn exposed to a current of sulphuretted 

 hydrogen gas. The lead being separated by these means from 

 the liquor, there was obtained, by evaporating the latter, a yel- 

 lowish matter of a nauseous odour, and of a flavour resembling 

 that of raw peas, and the substance which is found in leguminous 

 plants. It IS precipitated by galls, and dissolves better in weak 

 tlian in strong alcohol. When heated in a tube, it gives all the 

 products common to vegetables, without any mixture of animal 

 matter. 



The different substances which have been described do not 

 appear to be the active matter of the cubebs ; the grains which 

 had been acted upon by water were treated with boiUng alcohol. 

 This solution being filtered left upon evaporation a green sub- 

 stance which had peculiar properties, and the appearance of fatty 

 matter. It is fluid, of a disagreeable smell, an acrid bitter taste^ 

 somewhat resembling that of balsam of copaiva, and it occasion* 

 shght irritation in the throat. When put upon paper, it occa- 

 sions spots, like fat oils. This paper, when heated, gives out a 

 little volatile oil, which was mixed with the fatty matter, but the 

 paper remained spotted. 



The fatty matter, when washed with water, communicated to 

 it a little pungency ; the water, when evaporated, left an extrac- 

 tive matter which had also been taken up; dissolved in cold ether, 

 it left a residue of a resinous nature. This oil when obtained by 

 means of ether from the grain separated from the shell is much 

 whiter, because the shells contain a much greater quantity of 

 colouring matter; the fatty matter was subjected to ebullition in 

 .weak sulphuric acid, in the hope of separating its acrid property; 

 the plan did not succeed ; I merely remarked that the sides of the 

 vessel to which it was attached became coloured from a rose- 

 red to a violet-purple : if water be poured upon this colouring 

 matter, it changes in colour, and becomes blue. Balsam of co- 

 paiva, and even turpentine, treated by sulphuric acid, became 

 of the same colour. 



Wishing to know whether this substance existed in the shell, 

 or only in the grain, I took 77*22 grains separated from all their 

 shells, excepting the two last. This quantity digested in alcohol 

 gave about 2i grains of the matter in question ; while 77*22 

 grains of the shells which contained no kernel gave me scarcely 

 one grain of it. It is, therefore, evident, that this matter occurs 

 in every part of the grain, but most abundantly in the centre. 



This peculiar matter dissolves in ether or in alcohol ; submitted 

 id distillation it yields a small quantity of essential oil, but the 



