264 A CHEMICAL STUDY OF 



Yuccal was treated with sjiirit of different strengths, as a means of separating 

 resin acids if any were present. It was treated with 85 per cent, spirit ; an opaque 

 brown substance was left undissolved, which was soluble in absolute alcohol ; insolu- 

 ble in ether, and colored brown by concentrated sulphuric acid. The color was not 

 discharged by alcohol or ether. The 85 per cent, spirit solution was evaporated, and 

 the residue treated with 50 per cent, spirit and a small quantity of a brown residue 

 was insoluble. The 50 per cent, spii-it solution on evaporating left a non-crystalline, 

 transparent, I'eddish-colored solid ; acid to litmus. It was colored cherry-red by con- 

 centrated sulphuric acid, and slowly dissolved to a yellowish-red liquid. 



Extract (3), tlie Gh'een Part of the Leaf. 



The residual powder from the petroleum sjiirit maceration was thoroughly dried, 

 and again placed in the percolator. It was treated with Squibbs' stronger ether. The 

 extract was a deep-green colored liquid and fluorescent. The reaction was slightly 

 acid. Alcohol, benzole, and petroleum spirit added to the ethereal extract did not 

 cause a precipitation. An amorphous and green-colored residue was obtained on 

 evaporating the extract. The amount of total solids Avas estimated from a definite 

 volume of the extract, which was evaporated, dried, and weighed. 



TOTAL SOLIDS. 



Mhereal residue dried al 100^ C , 1.25 per cent of solids. 



" 110° C l.li ' 



0.11 " " loss. 



The ethereal residue was brought into a state of fine division and treated with 

 water. The amount of total solids soluble in ether and water was 0.34 per cent. The 

 aqueous extract was neutral in reaction. It was faintly colored and slightly bitter to 

 the taste. It was not colored by iron salts nor precipitated with alum and gelatine 

 solution, showing absence of gallic acid or tannin. Copper solutions were not reduced, 

 indicating absence of glucosides, though the precaution was observed of boiling the 

 aqueous extract with acid and rendering alkaline before adding the copper solution. 

 The aqueous extract was agitated with acetic ether and a distinctly crystalline resi- 

 due separated. Under the microscope these crystals were white, needle-shaped and 

 arranged in bundles. They did not respond to tests for gallic acid. Potash solution 

 formed a yellow mixture Avith the crystals. The color was discharged by a drop of 

 hydrochloric acid. Chloroform did not dissolve any substance from the ethereal 

 residue. The ethereal residue was treated with acidulated water and tested negatively 

 for alkaloids. 



The ethereal residue insoluble in water was treated with alcohol. The amount of 



