BLOOD ROOT. 79 
water. It is diminished by heat, yet it does not 
come over with water in distillation. 
4. Feeula. The infusion of the root in cold 
water is limpid. The hot infusion is viseid and 
glutinous and stiffens linen. From this solution 
the frecula is precipitated in a white powder by al- 
cohol. Nitric acid dissolves this precipitate, which 
may be again thrown down by alcohol. | 
5. A fibrous or woody portion. ; 
The beautiful colour of the root seems to re- 
side more in the resin than in any other princi- 
ple, since the alcoholic solution has always more 
than twice as much colour as the aqueous. Pa- 
pers dipt in these solutions receive a bright salmon 
colour from the tincture, but a yery faint one from 
the aqueous infusion. This circumstance furnish- 
es an impediment to the use of this article in dyeing. 
The medical properties of the Sanguinaria are 
_ those of an acrid nareotic. When taken im a large 
dose it irritates the fauces, leaving an impression 
in the throat for considerable time after it is swal- 
lowed. It occasions heartburn, nausea, faintness, 
and frequeatly vertigo and diminished vision. 
At length it vomits, but i operation it is less 
certain than other emeties“in common use. The 
above effects are produced by a dose of from eight 
to twenty grains of the fresh powdered root. 
