AGANTHAOE^. 39 



alcoliol^ and pressing the crystals "between blotting paper, by 



^ matt 



the residue, which, was nearly white, possessed the following 

 properties:— On being heated between watch-glasses it melted 

 into an amber-coloured fluid, and after the lapse of 



some 



the glasses were filled with a white, wool-like sublimate. In 

 water the principle was insoluble, and it was not acted upon by 

 ammonia or dilute sodium hydrate. In concentrated sulphuric 

 acid it dissolved with a yellow coloration, and on dilution the 

 solution became milky. On gently heating the sulphuric acid 



solution 



pinkish 



resulted; when chloroform was agitated with this fluid it 

 became coloured either pink, violet, greenish or even blue, the 

 tint appearing to depend on the degree of heat applied to the acid 

 solution before dilution with water. The principle dissolved 

 in chloroform, and the solution when agitated with an equal 

 volume of concentrated sulphuric acid, failed to give the colour 

 reaction in the chloroform layer for cholesterin, but the sulphuric 

 acid stratum exhibited a very marked green fluorescence. 



Evaporated to dryness with nitric acid a yellow residue was 

 left, which, on the addition of ammonia, became of an orange- 

 yellow colour, but without any trace of redness. When the 

 solid principle was evaporated to dryness with HCl and ferric 

 chloride, it was difficult to say what colour the residue 

 The test, however, applied as described by G. Forti (5%. 8pe'rim. 

 AgrL Ital 18, 580), by first dissolving the principle in chloro- 

 form, adding a little strong ferric chloride and concentrated 

 hydrochloric acid, and evaporating to dryness, left a dark- 

 coloured residue; this, when dry and cold, was treated with 

 chloroform and gently warmed, when a fine violet-coloured 

 solution was ^ afforded. The acid ethereal extract contained 

 yellow colouring matter and possessed an aromatic odour. 



was. 



alkalin 



Th 



a marked degree alkaloidal reactions, but we failed to obtain 

 any special colour tests. 



The seed, are glutinous besides being mucilaginous. TW 



contain 



