TUCCA AKGUSTIFOLIA. 2G3 



posed the fumes that wore given oft' were pleasant and aromatic. Tests failed to show 

 the presence of benzoic or cinnamic acids. 



The ethereal residue was treated with warm water, and on cooling, the liquid Avas 

 agitated with acetic ether, which was separated, and when evaporated yielded a small 

 quantity of resinous substance. The ethereal residue insoluble in water was treated 

 with boiling ether, and as the liquid concentrated, the white needle-shaped cr3'stals 

 wore seen floating in it, but on further concentration they could not be scon, and a 

 yellow greasy-looking mass settled in the bottom of the beaker. On driving oft' the 

 ether, a transjjarent and rub3'-colorod resinous substance remained. The aqueous 

 extract obtained in the way described above gave no coloration with iron salts, and no 

 precipitate with gelatine and alum solution, potassio-mereuric iodide, or gold chloride 

 solutions. Fehling's solution was not reduced by boiling, though the aqueous ex- 

 tract was boiled with acid, then rendered alkaline before adding the copper tost. The 

 preceding tests gave negative results for gallic acid, tannin, alkaloids, and glucosides. 

 A portion of the aqueous extract was acidified and agitated successively with difter- 

 ent solvents, for glucosides, bitter principles, and alkaloids which may be removed 

 from solution by this means. The acid liquid was then rendered alkaline with am- 

 monia, and agitated successively with the same order of solvents that wore used Avith 

 the aciditlod liquid. No solids wore separated b}' those methods. The ethereal residue 

 insoluble in Avater was treated with alcohol ; and yielded traces of a resinous sub- 

 stance. The residue insoluble in Avater and alcohol Avas not dissolved by ether, acids 

 or alkalies. 



Yuccal or the ethereal residue soluble in ether and alcohol Avas saponified, and the 

 soap boiled Avith load acetate. The yelloAV masses Avere collected on a filter and treated 

 Avith boiling ether, and the filtrate Avas slowly evaporated. The residue Avas a granular 

 solid. This substance Avas imperfectly purified by repeated boiling Avith ether, and a 

 solid of ci-ystalline structure oljtainod. It gaA'c an acid reaction AviLh litmus, and a rod 

 color Avith concentrated sulphuric acid. Tiie acid dissolved a substance enclosing the 

 crystals, leaving the structure of the latter uninjured and colored. Strong nitric acid 

 dissoh'cd the crystals witli no coloration. They aaxm-c soluble in absolute alcohol, 

 amyl alcohol, benzole, chloroform, glycerin, and a solution of alcoholic soda; soluble 

 in potassium iodide, potassium chromate, mercurous nitrate, cobalt nitrate, potassium 

 ferro-and-fcrri-cyanide solutions ; insoluble in ammonia and aqueous alkalies. 



llie application of heal to the resin iicid mixture, or the addition of solvents to the mixture. The more concentrated 

 lliu acid the more rapid was the reaction. The application of heat also hastened the change, especially if a more dilute 

 acid was used in the mixture. Some solvents acted like heat by increasing the energy of the reactions. Alcohol and 

 ether were active solvents, and the reaction was atteodcd by the escape of nitrous fumes from the combination of alco- 

 hol or ether and nitric acid. Chloroform and benzole were indinurent. Ainyl alcolio! acted feebly. 



