BV JAMES M. PETRIE. 439 



The liesi>is (lepo^iited from Cold Water, D. 

 The light browu resinous powder obtained by settling the original aqueous 

 solution of the resins, and weighing 04 gms., was dissolved in a little alcohol and 

 mixed with prepared sawdust. The whole was then thoroughly dried, and ex- 

 tracted ia a Soxhh't apparatus, successively with organic solvents. The jdeld ob- 

 tained was : — 



Extracted by ether 10 % 



„ chloroform 1 



„ alcohol 21 



Insoluble 68 



The brown resin contained 1.2 % of inorganic salts. From each of these 

 extracts the solvent was distilled, and the residual substance examined. Nothing 

 crystalline was obtained from any [jortion, and they seemed to be composed of 

 amorphous resins. 



Fekdixg Experijiexts with Maceozajiia spiralis. 

 The animals used were white rats. They were kept singly in metal cages, 

 and their normal food consisted of bread, or dog-biscuit, and water. 



(i.) With the fnesh leaf -powder. — The powdered leaves were mixed with 

 bread or biscuit into a paste with water. 10 gins, of leaves were thus given daily 

 to each of four rats. In most cases the ration was tinished, but at the end of two 

 weeks they ceased to eat any more, and after starving for a number of days they 

 were put back on normal diet. 



These animals were very lively and active, showing no ill effects at the end 

 of the experiment, nor after some weeks. 



(ii.) With the constituents of the <ether extract. — It has been stated in the 

 historical part above (p. 427), that Lauterer, of Queensland, separated from the 

 ieavt'S of Macrozamia by extraction with ether, a quantity of resin, to which he 

 attributed the poisonous effects. 



For the purpose of testing tliese resins a quantity of the leaves were treated 

 in a special manner. 



A quantity of the air-dried leaf-powder weighing 2.5 kilos was thoroughly 

 extracted in large i)ercolators with ether. After distilling off the solvent, there 

 remained a viscous residue weighing 94 gms. (dry weight), which consisted of 

 oils, fats and resins. Instead of using this entire extract it was further analysed by 

 dissolving in a little alcohol, mixing with prepared sawdust, and completely drying 

 tiie mass. This was extracted in a Soxhlet successively with {a) petroleum 

 spirit, (b) ether, tc) alcohol. 



The petroleum spirit extract was found to be the greatest in amount : it was 

 further subdivided by shaking out successively with (1) sodium carbonate, (2) 

 sodium hydroxide. 



The weights of these different portions finally obtained were : — 

 (a) Petroleum spirit extract — 



Sodium carbonate solution 15 o-ms. 



Sodium hydroxide ,, 30 



Petrol, spirit ., 20 



(6) Ether extract 24 



(c) Alcohol extract 5 



94 „ 



