140 the chemistry op doryphora sassafras, 



Preliminary Analysis. 



A small quantity of the powdered bark was first examined to 

 ascertain the general characters of the constituents. It was 

 passed through a 0*5 mm. sieve, and a weighed portion dried at 

 100°C., to constant weight. The fragrance during the heating 

 was quickly replaced by a disagreeable odour, which persisted to 

 the end. After weighing, the dried material was incinerated and 

 the ash weighed. The following results were obtained : — 



Air-dried bark. 

 Loss at 100°C. — vol. oil and moisture ... 11 •16% 



Ash 3-48 



Organic portion (bj' difference) 85"36 



100 00 



Action of various Solvents. — 20 gms. of the same powdered 

 sample were next extracted successively with various solvents. 



Petroleum Spirit Extract. — This was evaporated to dryness at 

 room temperature in a slow air-current, and the residue weighed. 

 This residue possessed the fine fragrance of the volatile oil. 

 When transferred to a desiccator, and the drying continued for a 

 number of days, it continued to lose weight, and on the fourth 

 day the fragrant odour had disappeared. The residue left was a 

 thin pale yellow liquid. It was heated in the oven at 100"C., 

 and attained a constant weight after IC hours. This residue 

 possessed a disagreeable, slightly pungent odour. 



Weight of first dry residue 1'19% ^ 



,, after 4 days in desiccator 1 '07 



after heating to 1U0°C 040 



,, of fragrant essential oil (J"12 



,, of other volatile oils 0'67 



The residue, after heating, consisted of fixed oil, and a little 

 resin. No alkaloids were found in the petroleum spirit extract. 



Ether Extract. — When evaporated at room temperature, and 

 dried in a desiccator, this anumnted to 1"05%. Of this weight, 

 0325 was volatilised by heating to 100°, and probably consisted 

 of the same volatile oil as that obtained in the previous extract. 



