270 A CHEMICAT. STUDY OF 



cally by calculating the amount of cupric oxide. It yielded 0.619 per cent.' A portion 

 of the aqueous extract was boiled with acid, neutralized, and heated over a water bath 

 with Fehling's solution to calculate, by difference, saccharose or other reducible com- 

 l)ounds, and b}' this method 0.18 per cent, was obtained. 



The alcoholic extract was described as being deeply colored. This coloring prin- 

 ciple-" Avas completely precipitated by sub-acetate of lead. The lead precipitate was 

 collected on a filter, suspended iu water, and decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen, 

 filtered, and the filtrate freed from all odoi-. It was allowed to evaporate slowly 

 over sulphuric acid. The I'esidue was a brownish-gi-ay mass, interspersed with 

 fine crystals which radiated from a nucleus. The mass was weighed and gave 3.27 

 per cent, of solids. Another portion of the alcoholic extract was agitated with water 

 and acetic ether. The coloring matter was taken up by the acetic ether, and on 

 evaporating a red-colored substance was recovered. It was dried and weighed, yield- 

 ing 2.2 per cent. This red-colored residue was perfectly soluble in cold water. This 

 solution was tested with the following reagents : It gave with potassium bichromate 

 a creamy-colored precipitate ; ferric chloride, a yellowish-green precipitate ; ferrous sul- 

 phate a reddish-brown precipitate ; stannous chloride, no precipitate, a yellow cloudy 

 liquid; alum, a cloudy solution; neutral acetate of lead, a slight precipitate. The 

 red color of the colorino- matter was brought out on addition of alkalies. It was 

 destroyed by acids. 



Extract (2), Wood of the Root 



The residual powder from the ether treatment was dried and macerated with 

 Squibb's stronger alcohol. The alcoholic extract was neutral in reaction ; when warm 

 it was a clear reddish-golden-colored liquid. On cooling, a creamy- white solid settled 

 at the bottom of the flask. This substance was soluble iu water, and was identified 

 as saponin by the usual tests for it. A definite volume of the alcoholic extract was 

 evaporated in a current of carbonic acid, dried, and weighed. The residue was incin- 

 erated iu a weighed platinum crucible for the ash determination. 



TOTAL SOLIDS. 



Alcoholic residue dried at 100° C 14.3 per cent. 



" " " IIOOC 14.3 



" " ash 00.1 



The alcoholic residue was treated with cold water in which it Avas soluble. A 

 cloudy solution was formed, and on shaking, it became frothy, and presented the 

 appearance of an emulsion. It was allowed to stand for several daj's to see if the 

 resinous matter separated, but the emulsion was permanent, as no separation had 



* A red crystalline coloring matter. Science, September 11, 1885. 



