YUCCA ANGDSTIFOLIA. 



259 



(4), for alkaloids, gave negative results. A poi'tion of the original powder, from each 

 of the four i)arts of the plant, was mixed with an aqueous solution of caustic soda, 

 and the distillate examined for volatile alkaloids with negative results. 



SUMMARY I. 



Petvoleum Spirit Extracts. 



1. The bark of tlie root. . 



2. " wood 



3. 



4. 



-green leaf 



yellow base of leaf. 



Solids extracted. 



1.24 per cent. 

 0.55 



2.20 



1.10 " 



Character of residue 



fixed oil 



/ " " 1 



\ chlorophyll ( 

 fixed oil 



Renetion with 

 litmus. 



Sidling point. 



slightly acid 

 neutral 



acid 



faintly acid 



60° U. 

 3(;o C. 



{semilhiid at "| 

 ordinary \ I 

 temperature j | 



Solidifying point. 



I f solid at ordinary 

 ' X temperature 

 15° C. 



120C. 



The solids extracted by petroleum spirit from the four parts of the plant are iden- 

 tified as fixed oils*; associated with a volatile principle (0.2 per cent) in extract 

 (2), and with traces of chlorophyll in extract (3). 



Fixed oil (1) was crystalline in structure. It was soluble in ether, chloroform, 

 benzole, carbon di-sulphide, and amji alcohol ; incompletely soluble iu cold or boiling 

 alcohol, acetic ether, and ammonium hydrate. It was colored pale green b}"^ sulphiu-ic 

 acid of 1.631 specific gravity, and changed to a bright-green color by calcium di- 

 sulphide, but formed no emulsion with it. Phosphoric acid colored it yellow. The 

 fixed oil was saponified, and a white soap separated. This was decomposed, and the 

 fatty acids recovered. Glyc(M-in was separated from the soap filtrate. 



Fixed oil (2) was dissolved with difllculty in boiling 95 per cent, alcohol, and. 

 hardened and discolored by absolute alcohol. It was not saponified. Crystalline 

 solids were separated by precipitating the alcoholic solution with magnesium acetate. 

 They melted at 85° C, and at GO'' C, respectively. 



Fixed oil (3) was soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzole, carbon di-sul- 

 phide, oil of turpentine, almond oil, glycerin, and slowly soluble in acetic ether. The 

 presence of free fatty acids was demonstrated. The fixed oil was colored dark-green 

 by syrupy antimony chloride ; on adding to it sulphuric acid of 1.475 specific gravity, 

 and a small cpiantity of zinc, hydrogen was generated, and the solubility of the oil in 

 the acid liquid was accompanied by a rosy tint given to the solution. 



Fi.xed oil (4j was crystalline iu structure. It was soluble in warm absolute 

 alcohol, in cold acetic cthei", chlorofoim, benzole, amyl alcohol, ether, carbon di-sul- 

 phide, and glycerin. It was saponified, and a white soap separated. The fixed oil 

 was colored dark-brown by alcoholic ammonia, and a mixture of ferric chloride solu- 

 tion and powdered rosaniline gave a violet colored reaction with it. 



•Fixed Oils. Science, Sept. 11, 1885. 

 A. P. S. — VOL. XVI. 2g. 



