290 EUPEOUBIACBJE. 



m 



ether from the acid aqueous solution, yielding no other special 



colour reactions. The carmine flocks precipitated hy the 

 alkali, and which were insoluble in ether, were separated by 

 filtration, the filtrate being of a logwood colour, and washed 

 with cokl water in which they were slightly soluble : on 

 ignition an alkaline ash was left. By dilute acids the carmine 

 precipitate was changed to salmon -yellow, the original colour 

 being restored by alkalies. An aqueous solution gave a 

 carmine-coloured precipitate with acetate of lead. 



The original aqueous alkaline solution was lastly acidified 

 with dilute sulphuric acid, which caused the separation of 

 salmon-coloured flocks, and agitated with amylic alcohol. The 

 amy lie alcohol extract was reddish-yellow, becoming of a deep 

 carmine hue .with alkalies, and afforded a carmine precipitate 

 with acetate of lead ; acids destroyed the colour and caused a 

 precipitate of salmon-coloured flocks practically insoluble in 

 ether. By heating with zinc dust, the dried principles, which 

 gave coloured precipitates with alkalies and acetate of lead, 

 afforded no crystalline sublimates. The freshly contused root- 

 bark afforded on steam distillation a small amount of a colourless 

 volatile oil possessing a marked camphoraeeous and pepper-Hke 

 odour and taste. 



In this inrestigation the principles which afforded coloured 

 precipitates with alkalies were the most interesting, and these 

 principles would appear to have been acids. It will be noted 

 that the original aqueous solution of the alcoholic extract was 

 not treated with any foreign acid prior to agitation with 

 petroleum and ordinary ether. The flocks which separated 

 during agitation with petroleum ether, and which were insoluble 

 in ether, gave from an alcoholic solution a different coloured 

 precipitate with acetate of lead, from the acids which were 

 subsequently precipitated when the aqueous solution of the 

 extract was rendered alkaline and agitated with ether, and 

 when the alkaHne solution was subsequently acidified before 

 agitation with amylic alcohol. The last two acids referred to 

 were, we consider, identical. The sodium salt of the acid was 

 only sUghtly soluble in water, while the free acid was at best 



