HAMAMELIDE. 593 
The powder of the freshly dried herb is dark olive green, and 
has the odour of sour milk. ak 
Chemical composition.—The dried and powdered plants ex- 
hausted with alcohol afforded 26°3 per cent. of a deep red brittle 
residue ; the portion of this extract insoluble in water consisted 
of a crystallizable colouring matter associated with resinous 
substances. By treatment of the powder directly with ether 
- the colouring matter was removed in a pure condition and in a 
crystalline form of yellowish-brown prisms. These crystals 
- were slightly soluble in boiling water and acetic acid, and more 
‘readily in strong alcohol, benzol, chloroform and ether. The 
crystals melted above the boiling point of water, and heated on 
platinum foil gave off green fumes, which condensed on a cool 
surface as a yellow crystalline sublimate. The solution in 
alkaline liquids was deep violet red, discharged by acids ; and 
a dye bath of the powder in which some silk was immersed 
produced a fast rich brown tint. There can be little doubt 
that this colouring matter is‘related to that obtained by Rennie 
from the root of D. Whittakeri growing in Australia, The result 
of Rennie’s investigation was the separation and analysis of two 
pigmentary principles of a crystalline nature. The one less 
soluble in alcohol had the formula C'!H°O*, which represents 
ihy ymethylnaphthaquinone, and the other more soluble 
had a lower melting point (1 64-165°). and an empirical formula : 
C''H280*%, The absorption spectrum of the alkaline solution 
of the former body shows the violet, while that of the latter 
shows only the red. The blistering property appeared to reside 
in aresin. The powdered herb left when ignited 11°13 per 
cent. of reddish ash, containing much iron in the ferric state. 
HAMAMELIDE%. 
LIQUIDAMBAR ORIENTALIS, Willer. 
ig.—Benil. and Trim., t. 107. ‘Liquid Storax (Eng.), 
- Styrax liquide (Ffr.). “ 
Hab.—Asia. The balsam. 
ae . 
