56 ARUM TRIPHYLLUM, 
the root, but was wholly without acrimony. The 
same experiment was repeated with alcohol, and 
vinegar, and afforded similar results. In every 
case the liquid remaining in the retort was also 
without pungency. : 
Some slices of the root were digested in proof 
spirit in a close stopped phial. ‘The portions of 
root retained their acrimony at the end of some 
weeks, but had imparted none to the spirit. At 
the end of two years, the root was examined and 
found destitute of acrimony, as were also the 
whole contents of the phial. 
Suspecting that the acrid principle of this 
plant must escape in form of gas during the pro- 
cesses which have been mentioned, the fol- 
lowing experiment was made. A quantity of the 
bruised root and stalks were placed in a vessel of 
water. A glass receiver was filled with water and | 
inverted over them, and sufficient heat applied to 
raise the water nearly to the boiling point. From 
the beginning of the process, bubbles of air con- 
tinued to escape from the plant, and were collect- 
ed in the upper part of the receiyer. In the 
course of half on hour, a considerable quantity of 
permanent gas was obtained. A part of this gas, 
after cooling, was transferred to a phial, in which 
was a small quantity of atmospheric air, On pre- 
