69-3 
Araliin.—This safonin-like glucoside was discovered by Holden and puri- 
fied by Lilly. It results as a slightly acrid, inodorous, whitish powder; soluble in 
water, insoluble in cold, strong alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Its watery solution 
yields a dense, persistent froth on agitation. It precipitates whiter from its 
solution in boiling alcohol when cold. Boiled with very dilute hydrochloric acid, 
it breaks down into glucose and Araliretin (Holden), a white, insoluble, tasteless 
and odorless, amorphous product. 
Alkaloid —Elkin announced an alkaloid principle separable as a yellowish, 
amorphous, semi-transparent, bitter mass, soluble in water and ether, and answer- 
ing to Mayer’s test. Lilly failed to procure this precipitable body, but isolated 
a “ bitter principle” having all its characteristics except that it was crystalline. 
Oil of Aralia (Elkins, Lilly)——An aromatic, somewhate amphoraceous, acid 
body, having the characteristic odor of the root. 
An acrid resin, soluble in alcohol and ether, insoluble in water ;*+ tannin ;* 
glucose ;+{ pictin ;}{ gum ;+ fat ;* and starch,+{ were also determined, 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—The only account of the action of this drug 
that we have, is a proving by Dr. Sam’! A. Jones, of Ann Arbor, § in whom a dose 
of 10 drops of the tincture caused a severe asthmatic fit, characterized by dry, 
wheezing respiration ; obstructed inspiration; a sense of impending suffocation 
and inability to lie down during the attack; profuse night sweat during sleep ; 
nausea; prostration; and difficult expulsion of small, soft stool, accompanied by 
the abdominal sense of oncoming diarrhoea, | have had the pleasure of seeing 
drop doses of the tincture promptly relieve a similar case, in’my own practice, in 
a half hour, and exert a beneficial effect in warding off recurring attacks. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 69. 
1. Portion of a fruiting stem, Binghamton, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1882. 
2. A leaf, half natural size. 
3. A flower. 
Bird’s-eye view of flower after removal of the anthers. 
5. Styles. 
6. Stamen. 
7. Pollen x 300. 
8. Section of the root. 
(3-6 enlarged. ) 
~ ‘cicheeanLAETTAE: 
cect LT OO oe — — 
4 Hale’s New Remedies, p. 53- 
* Holden, oc. cit. «+ T Elkins, oc. cit. { Lilly, /oc, cit. 
