68 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



— not from irritating principle residing in the plant, but from the immense quan- 

 tity of broken, sharp-pointed hairs carried up with it. The light, fluffy character is 

 remarkable, being one-tenth lighter than powdered senna. 



PEELIMINAEY EXAMINATION. 



The air-dried powder was subjected to a temperature of 110° C, until it ceased to 

 lose weight. The powder was found by this process to contain 10 per cent, of moist- 

 nre. It was then incinerated in a platurium crucible, and yielded 12.01 per cent, of 

 ash. The ash yielded to water 25 per cent, of soluble material, and to hydrochloric 

 acid 50.6 per cent., the residue being largely silica. A qualitative analysis of the ash 

 gave the following bases: CaO, KgO, MgO, AljOj, Fe203; and the following acid rad- 

 icals: SO3, CI, P2O5, C02, and SiOg. 



The powdered drug yielded to water acidulated with hydrochloric acid 30.52 per 

 cent., the solution evidently containing sugar, starch, albuminoids and extractive of 

 unknown composition, but containing no alkaloidal qualities. Petroleum ether, when 

 percolated through the powder until the latter was exhausted, yielded, on evapora- 

 tion, .8 per cent, of extract. The residue left, after treatment with petroleum ether, 

 was exhausted with sulphuric ether, and the ether distilled off. This extract is en- 

 tirely soluble in alcohol. By fusing the extract with caustic potash, and applying 

 the usual test for vegetable acids, no reaction is obtained. The etherial extract thus 

 obtained was 1.12 per cent. From the second residue an absolute alcoholic extract 

 was obtained, which amounted to 1.9 per cent. The petroleum-ether extract consisted 

 mainly of fat, accompanied with chlorophyl. The fusing point of this fat was 47.5° C. ; 

 congealed very readily, showing the presence of a higher carbonaceous fat. It gave 

 a number of interesting color reactions. The etherial extract contained more chlo- 

 rophyl, and a soft resin. The alcoholic extract was not examined for proximate 

 principles. 



With a view of detecting, by a short process, any alkaloids, two experiments were 

 made, as follows: 



Ten grammes of the finely-powdered drug were macerated with a mixture of 66 

 volumes of ether, 5 volumes of alcohol, and 2 volumes of alcohol, for 24 hours. The 

 etherial solution filtered off, and agitated with 15 cc. of water, containing a little sul- 

 phuric acid. The ether evaporated off. The residue, tested with Mayer's reagent, 

 gave no reaction. 



Fifty grammes were next treated with 3 per cent, of oxalic acid solution at 60° C; 

 the filtered solution neutralized with ammonia and evaporated to nearly a syrupy 

 condition. This was shaken briskly with ether, the etherial solution decanted and 

 allowed to evaporate. The residue, treated with water acidulated with sulphuric acid 

 and tested with Mayer's reagent, as well as other general reagents for alkaloids, gave 

 no reaction for the presence of such a principle. 



Distillation of the powdered leaves from potash lye developed a decidedly un- 

 pleasant odor, but upon an examination of the distillate no proof was evinced of the 

 presence of a volatile active principle. The above experiments were made only as 

 a preliminary examination of the plant, as a study of its behavior to various pro- 

 cesses merely; the writer will take up the subject more completely in the near future. 

 It has been but a few weeks since the plant was sent to the laboratory. A thorough 

 analysis will require several months. A more exhaustive chemical examination is 

 now in process, and will be reported at next meeting. 



PHYSIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION. 



Through the kindness of Mr. R. E. Steele, referred to above, there was presented 

 an excellent opportunity to personally observe and study the physiological effects 

 of the plant upon animals. A cow had been eating loco for the past year or so, and 



