10 DISCOVERY OF SAPONIN IN ACACIA DELIBRATA ; 
The alkaloid has an appearance and smell like nicotine. There 
was not sufficient to make a combustion analysis. He believes 
that it is nicotine. This investigation has proved— 
1st. That Nicotina suaveolens has an alkaloid base probably 
identical with nicotine. 
2nd. That contrary to the general opinion it is a most 
poisonous plant. 
*ON THE DISCOVERY OF SArOni a 
ACACIA DELIBRATA, A. Cuuz; 
BY 
T. L. BANCROFT, M.B.,. Haim 
(Read on 4th March, 1887). 
In September, 1886, in a scrub on the Gregory River, I found by 
accidentally biting the pod of an Acacia that it had a very dis- 
agreeable acrid taste ; it seemed so strange that an Acacia should 
have any but an astringent taste, that a quantity of the pods were 
gathered with a view to ascertain if they contained a physiologically 
active substance. 
All parts of the plant with the exception of the pods have an 
astringent taste. 
Mr. F. M. Bailey, F.L.S., to whom specimens of this Acaci@ 
were given, says that it approaches but does not quite agree with 
Allan Cunningham’s Acacia delibrata. Seeds that I brought down 
have germinated, and are now growing at the Acclimatisation 
Society’s garden. 
The active principle is a neutral body, having the properties of 
a glucoside. To prepare it, bruise the pods in mortar, boil in 
alcohol (rectified spirit of wine B.P.), filter, precipitate with basic 
acetate of lead, collect the precipitate, add water to the filtrate 
* This and the following two papers, although read on 4th March, are 
inserted here for facility of reference as being on a similar subject to that of 
foregoing communication and from the same author. 
