Aristolochia serpentaria. 47 
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS, 
* 
“ Snake-root has an aromatic smell, approaching to that of valerian, 
but more agreeable, and a warm, bitterish pungent taste, which is not © 
easily concealed or overpowered by a large admixture of other ma- 
terials. It gives out its active matter both to water and rectified spirit, 
and tinges the former of a deep brown, the latter of an orange co- 
lour. Greatest part of its smell and flavour is carried off in evapo- 
ration or distillation by both menstrua: along with water there arises, 
if the quantity of the root submitted to the operation be lange, a 
small portion of pale-coloured essential oil, of a considerable smell, 
but no very strong taste, greatest part of the camphorated pungency, 
as well as bitterness of the root, remaining in the inspissated extract. 
The spirituous extract is stronger than the watery: not so much 
from its having lost less in the evaporation, as from its containing 
the active parts of the root concentrated into a smaller volume ; its 
quantity amounting only to about one-half of that of the other.”’* — 
“ Treated with alcohol it affords a bright green tincture, which 
is rendered turbid by water; by filtration a small portion of green 
matter is separated, but its transparency is not restored, It neither 
* Lewis, M. M. p. 602. 
