264 _ Chemical analysis of Euphorbia Ipecacuanha. 
redissolved on the addition of alcohol. To another portion of this 
alcoholic solution, tincture of galls was added, with no other effect 
than changing its colour to a dark brown. A separate portion was 
tested by a solution of gelatine, which produced no change what- 
ever in its sensible or chemical properties. The non-existence of 
cinchonin or tannin, being thus ascertained, the remaining tincture 
was submitted to distillation in an alembic, placed in a water-bath, 
saturated with muriate of soda. On the application of heat there 
ascended a small quantity of pure alcohol. On an elevation of 
temperature, there came over a dark brown fluid, bearing a striking 
analogy in smell and colour, to highly rectified oil of amber; the 
residuum, when hot, was of the consistence of tar ; but on cooling, 
assumed a concrete form, extremely brittle, and when broken, of a 
glassy fracture, not unlike kino. | 
A small quantity of this extract was subjected to distillation, 
and afforded carburetted hydrogen and carbonic acid. * On another 
portion of the extract, distilled water was boiled until it formed a 
brown turbid mixture, which deposited, on cooling, small shining 
molecules, that resisted the successive action of highly concentrated 
ether and alcohol ; but were converted into oxalic acid on the af- 
fusion of nitric acid. 
There resides, therefore, in the Euphorbia Ipecacuanha, a 
colouring principle, soluble in alcohol, and insoluble in water; 
