RANUNCULACEH.. — 25 
_ _ Microscopic structure.—The seeds are thickly set with white 
| nine hairs, arranged in rows. 
9 
Chemical composition.—The drug reduced to powder lost ~ 
; 28-5 per cent. of moisture when heated to 100° C. The ash 
. S amoanted to 17-8 per cent. ‘Treated with 94 per cent. alcohol 
13-4 per cent. of a dark reddish, bitter, acid extract was 
obtained. The extract was mixed with water acidulated with 
hydrochloric acid, and repeatedly agitated with ether. 
i During agitation, blackish resinous matter separated, while 
the ether became turbid from the separation of a white 
principle. 
On filtration of the aqueous solution 2°6 per cent. of a dark 
resinous body was obtained, which was soluble in ammonia to 
the extent of 2°54 per cent. The ammoniacal solution was of 
a dark brown colour, the addition of acids caused the precipita- 
tion of dirty yellowish flocks; this principle had the pro- 
perties of an acid resin. The residue insoluble in ammonia 
amounted to 06 per cent., and was white; it was not further 
examined. 
The ethereal solution after filtration yielded 1-63 per cent. 
of extractive, the residue on the filter was white, and had the 
physical characters of the principle left after the action of 
ammonia on the black resin already mentioned. The ethereal 
extract was redissolved in ether, and agitated with ammonia. 
On separating the ether, it left on evaporation *69 per cent. of 
a greenish-yellow oily residue, from which a white crystalline 
principle slowly separated. This crystalline principle will be | 
referred to again. The ammoniacal solution yielded with acids 
brownish-yellow flocks, which had the properties of an acid 
resin ; this principle would appear to be similar to the dark 
resin left as a residue after agitation of the r Original. aqueous. 
solution with ether. ; 
The original aqueous acid solution left after os of 
the ether was repeatedly agitated with amylic alcohol. ‘ 
separated amglic alcohol was agitated with ammonia, 
aa co of a deep yellow hue; on se; 
q 
4 
a 
