51-2 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The ripe dried seeds are pounded to 
a pulp and macerated for eight days in twice their weight of strong alcohol, being 
shaken twice a day, and kept in closely-stoppered bottles in a dark, cool place. 
The tincture, separated from this mass by filtration, has a disgusting fecal odor, a 
clear but slightly yellowish color, and a neutral reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—Legumin, or Vegetable Casein. This albu- 
minoid, or proteid body, containing both N and S§, is found in many seeds of the 
Leguminose, from which it may be separated by triturating them, after soaking 
in warm water and pressing the pulp through a sieve. The liquid deposits starch 
on standing, and the casein-like body may be precipitated from the liquor by ace- 
tic acid. 
Phaseolin.—This peculiar amorphous body is obtained by extracting the seeds 
with alcohol, and treating the extract with ether to remove the sugar. Phaseolin 
produces a volatile oil, of very disgusting fecal odor, by decomposition. 
Inosite,* or animal galactose, existing in the muscles of the heart and lungs, 
as well as in the parenchyma of the liver and kidneys, is also found in the seeds of 
this and other Leguminose. 
The following analyses of Beans by Einhof+ and Braconnott show the general 
constituents : 
Einhof. Braconnot, 
PNR Oe ety re ee re ee ge 9. 
Senn SOON Me a ee a ae ae 425 
Starch, Gf ee eget ak os Sale a ge Sas 1 ee 42.34 
Boteoreg, Walter etd wich 4 799 5-36 
WRN ee ee er eee 31 
Aiimen and anited-vey, Matter, =, ge 52 
Mucilage, Re See er eae cee gee ga i a a 744 
SOUS WE Wile i ee ee rie 21 2%: 
TR ee 18.20 
pecihc acid, epumnin iid saw, 1.50 
Retly Wai se a a oe ee -70 
EMP ROMIOB, ee CS ee a -7° 
NOrrpetaaaine SBN ee ee -20 
wai fu ee Oe ee el eee eg oe 1,00 
3840 100,00 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—The only accounts of the ill effects produced 
by eating raw beans are those of Dr. Demeures§ and William Dale, Esq. ;|| the 
latter I exclude here, as the beans were mildewed, and the severity of the symp- 
toms, together with their character, appear to me to be due to the fungus. The 
symptoms produced in the first case were: Severe frontal headache accompanied 
by pain, soreness, and itching of the eyeball; eyeball painful to touch; pain in the 
epigastrium when touched, and hernia-like pain at right inguinal ring. Beans, 
* See p. 95-3. 3 Four. de la Société Gall,, 1 Ser., 4, 112. 
+ Gehilen’s Four., vi, 545. || Brit, Med. Four., 1864, 471. 
t Ann: de Chim. et Phys., xxxiv, 85. 
