20. PYROLA UMBELLATA 
ple, 2.04 of resin, 1.38 of tannin, a slight portion 
of gum, and the rest of fibrina and earthy salts. 
"The resin is adhesive, brownish, readily soluble in 
ether and alkalis, burning with flame and a res- 
inous odour, and leaving a white cinder. 
From my own trials the quantity of resin in 
this plant appears to be very small. A saturated 
tincture of adeep brown colour does not give a 
precipitate on the first addition of water. Itis 
only after some time standing, and partly perhaps 
from the evaporation of the alcohol, that a turbid- 
ness begins to appear in the solution. Itis prob. 
able that spirit is a better menstruum than water 
for the soluble portions of this plant, although the 
latter is capable of sian the ae _— of 
its virtue. | 
The Pyrola sribsaliats; seins ential ia 
as a medicine until within a few years past, has 
at the present day acquired a reputation of con- 
- siderable extent in the treatment of various dis- 
eases. Its popular celebrity seems to have origi- 
nated in its application to the treatment of fever 
and rheumatism ; but the attention of physicians 
has been chiefly drawn towards its use in other 
complaints. The instances in which this plant 
has received favourable testimonies on medical 
authority, of its successful use, both in America 
