APPENDIX. 115 



brown colour and of the consistence of treacle. The marc left after 

 extraction with boiling spirit was repercolated with 250 c.c, cold 

 spuit containing 1 per cent, of tartaric acid, and the spiiit evaporated 

 oflF at a low temperature. The two extracts were now mixed with 

 water containing 2*5 grammes of tartaric acid, and the mixture 

 agitated with light petroleum ether. During agitation a few yellow- 

 ish flocks separated. The petroleum ether extract amounted to 1'173 

 percent., calculated on the root containing 6'23percent. of moistm-e. 

 The petroleum ether extract was yellowish-brown in colour, semi solid 

 in consistence, and waxy in odour. The taste was nauseous, recalling 



croton oil. 



with 



acid reaction. On spontaneous evaporation of the alcoholic solution, 

 a yellow transparent mass was left at the bottom of the beaker, 

 while on the sides the deposit was yellowish-white and opaque. On 

 mici'oscopic examination, it appeared as minute needle-sliaped crystals. 

 An attempt was made to separate the petroleum ether extract into 

 fractions, and with this object it was gently warmed with proof 

 spirit, which dissolved a certain amount, and the extract was thus 

 roughly divided into a soluble and insoluble residue. The proof 

 spirit solution, on spontaneous evaporation, deposited soft orange 

 resinous matter, while some white deposit separated on the sides of 

 the capsule. This was found to consist of oil globules, and a few 

 minute needle-shaped crystals. In addition to oil and resinous 

 matter possessing an acid reaction, the presence was also detected of 

 an alkaloidal principle soluble in ether, which afforded marked indi- 

 cations with the usual reagents. With Frohde's reagent no change 

 ^as observed in the cold, but a dirty blue developed on gently 

 warming. The portion of the petroleum ether extract insoluble in 

 proof spirit was boiled with alcoholic potash, the solution evaporated 

 to diyness and treated with water. The aqueous solution was turbid 

 from the separation of brown flocks. The turbid solution was agitated 



with 



amphoraceous 



and terebintliinate odonr, was of an orange colour, and had a 

 melting point of 62° C. It was i 



examined. Th 



dilute 



with ether. The ether extract was converted into a lead soap and 

 reagitated with ether. The soluble lead soap, after separation of 

 lead, afforded a residue which was liquid at ordinary temperatures 

 and of a reddish -brown colour. When agitated with a freshly 

 prepared solution of nitrate of mercuiy, it solidified to a yellowish 



