26 RANUNCULACE#. 
amylic alcohol, it left on evaporation *51 per cent. of a nonteal 
yellow, transparent principle insoluble in alkaline solutions. . 
This principle was not further examined. The deep yellow ~ 
ammoniacal solution yielded yellow flocks on the addition of — 
acids, which were redissolved on agitation, the resulting solu 
tion being of a dirty brown colour; the addition of alkalie 
again caused the liquid to assume its original deep yello 
colour. This principle had the properties of an acid, and wi 
be referred to subsequently. The amylic alcohol extract als 
afforded evidence of the presence of a tannin, which gave wit 
erric chloride a deep greenish coloured solution. 
The original aqueous acid solution was now render 
alkaline by ammonia and agitated with ether. The separa 
ether had a marked blue fluorescence, on evaporation a slight] 
yellow transparent varnish-like residue was left, soluble i 
acids, the resulting solution possessing a_ bitter tas 
Alkalies caused the precipitation of white flocks easily solubl 
in ether, and precipitates were obtained with all the alkaloi 
reagents ; no distinctive colour reactions were yielded. — 
crystalline principle referred to as occurring in the et 
extract obtained from the aqueous acid solution of the extrac 
had the same properties as the alkaloid now described, indicat: 
ing that the principle was separable by ether both from ; 
acid and alkaline solution. The alkaline original aque 
solution was now agitated with amylic alcohol; the separate 
amylic alcohol left on evaporation a yellow residue, which : 
cad soluble in acids. After filtration to separate insolubl 
er, the clear aqueous solution yielded yellow 
ke with alkalies, insoluble in ether, but dissolyed b 
amylic alcohol. The solution of the principle ‘in acids ha 
yellow colour’ and was bitter to taste, and gave a precipite 
with the ordinary alkaloidal reagents ; some of the col 
yeactions were similar to those yielded by berberine. Reg 
ing the nature of. these two. bitter alkaloids, though he 
kK afforded reactions with reagents which were not 1 inco. 
with their being delphinine and berberine respe 
