168 COAPRIFOLIACEZ.. 
(1845) to be identical with valerianic acid. The viburnin of 
Kramer is a light yellowish substance or whitish powder of 
neutral reaction, and of a purely bitter taste; it is slightly 
soluble in water and more freely so in alcohol. Enz (1863) 
found in the fruit of V. Lantana, a hygroscopic neutral bitter 
principle readily soluble in water, algo valerianic, acetic, tar 
taric and tannic acids. 
The odorous principle of the leaves of V. fetidum is removed 
by distillation in the form of fetid volatile oil, separating from 
the distillate in white greasy flakes neutral in reaction. he 
decoction remaining in the retort had a nauseous animal-like 
odour, and when filtered, showed the presence of much muci 
lage by giving gelatinous precipitates with ferric chloride, 
acetate and alcohol. Ether removed the fetid principle toge 
ther with chlorophyll, some resinous matter, and a trace of 
alkaloid from the dried and powdered leaves. The alcoho 
extract was sweet, with a peculiar sharpness on the palate, 
was acid in reaction. The aqueous solution of this e3 
gave abundant precipitates with potassio-mercuric iodide, iod 
solution, tannin and ferrocyanide of potassium, indicating the 
presence of an alkaloid, which was subsequently confirmed 
Separating it from this solution by the cautious additio 
ammonia or caustic soda. Ammonia added to its sola 
caused a precipitate of cross-shaped crystals ; soda threw d 
the alkaloid as a whitish powder, which agglutinated into 
brown mass soluble in excess of the alkali The alkaloid h 
peculiar sharp taste, was soluble in ethylic and amylic ale 
and chloroform, and slightly in water and ether. It formed’ 
crystalline sulphate, hydrochlorate and nitrate. It gave 
peculiar colour reactions with the strong mineral acids, b 
dissolved in nitric acid, and the solution when evaporated let! 
and gave off alkaline fumes. The leaves left 12-25 per ce! 
white ash when completely ignited. ae 
