178 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



volume, magnesia is tc be added to it, and it is then to be dis- 

 tilled to dryness in a water-bath, condensing in cold vessels. 



The odour of these solutions proves the volatility of the sub- 

 stance, and indeed if a piece of reddened litmus paper be hung 

 over some of it in a flask, the blue colour is soon restored. The solu- 

 tions saturate acids ; and with sulphuric and nitric acids yield white 

 and brilliant acicular crystals. When, however, a large quantity of 

 this water was neutralized by muriatic acid, and evaporated, a salt 

 was obtained which evidently contained muriate of ammonia. 

 M. Vauquelin therefore thinks it possible that this ammonia may 

 be the only cause of the alkalinity of the solution ; and that the 

 acrid principle has no alkaline property. — Jour, de Phar.%. 333. 



12. On Digitaline, by M. Royer — The active principle of Digitalis 

 was obtained by digesting a pound of the plant of commerce in 

 ether, first cold, and then heated under pressure ; the solution was 

 filtered and evaporated, the residuum dissolved in water and filtered, 

 the solution treated with hydratcd oxide of lead, the whole evapo- 

 rated and digested in ether, which dissolved out the active prin- 

 ciple ; on evaporation it appeared as a brown pasty substance, 

 slowly restoring the blue colour of reddened litmus paper, very 

 bitter and very deliquescent. It is very difficult to obtain it crys- 

 tallized, but a drop of its solution in alcohol, evaporated on glass, 

 over a lamp, when examined by a microscope, gave abundance of 

 minute crystals. 



That conviction might be obtained of the active nature of this 

 substance, a grain was dissolved in about 180 grains of water, and 

 injected into the abdomen of a rabbit ; in a few minutes respiration 

 diminished, the circulation diminished, and the animal speedily died 

 without agitation or pain, which is the more remarkable as the 

 rabbit is convulsed with great facility. Haifa grain in 120 grains 

 of water, ejected into the veins of a cat, caused a similar death in 

 about 15 minutes. One grain and a half in half an ounce of water, 

 introduced into the jugular vein of a dog, caused death in five 

 minutes. In all these cases the arterial blood presented a decidedly 

 venomous tint, and coagulated with difficulty. — Bib. Univ. xxvi. 102. 



13. Anah/sis of the Male Fern Root. — According to M. Morin 

 this root, which is employed with success as an anthelminti>;, owes 

 that property to a fatty substance, capable of being saponified, of a 

 nauseous odour quite like that of the root, of a very disagreeable 

 taste, heavier than water, distilling with water, and when burnt 

 giving a dense aromatic smoke. 'Ihe root contains besides, gallic 

 and acetic acids, uncrystallizable sugar, tannin, starch, a gela- 

 tinous matter insoluble in water and alcohol, lignine, and various 

 salts which are found in its ashes. M. Morin considers the fatty 

 part as formed of a fixed and a volatile oil; but he has not given proofs 



