66 Dr. Nimrao on the 



strongest alcohol, and let them be well agitated ; in a few mi- 

 nutes a separation takes place ; the oil, unless very impure, 

 falls to the bottom, and the alcohol, having dissolved the im- 

 purities, floats at the top. Pour off the alcoholic portion, add 

 an equal quantity of alcohol as before, agitate and separate the 

 liquids. If this be repeated three or four times, the oil be- 

 comes nearly tasteless, almost without smell, and when a por- 

 tion of it is evaporated, it leaves no residue. It is necessary 

 to remark, that, pure as the oil may be rendered, it speedily 

 undergoes alteration, and returns to its original state of greater 

 or less impurity. 



Upon the 29 parts of matter which remained after the action 

 of alcohol had been exhausted, the purified oil of turpentine 

 was poured; and after digestion a suitable length of time, the 

 whole was thrown upon a filter, washed with more of tlie oil, 

 and the residuum thoroughly dried. Of 29 parts there remained 

 16 parts undissolved, 13 parts were dissolved. These proportions 

 being brought to 100 parts, the following is the estimate : 



Croton seeds 100 = 27.5 acrid matter soluble in alcohol, 



32.5 fixed oil soluble in oil of turpentine, 

 40. farinaceous matter insoluble by both. 



100 

 In another experiment, the alcoholic solution, being filtered 

 hot, carried off 34 parts, leaving 26 for the action of the oil of tur- 

 pentine, and 40 parts, just as before, undissolved. In other expe- 

 riments the results were nearly in the proportions above stated. 

 Upon 100 parts of the bruised kernels, oil of turpentine was 

 poured, and treated as before, yielded — 



60 parts of the acrid matter and oil soluble in it, 

 40 parts of insoluble farinaceous substance. 



loo 



The action of sulphuric ether was next tried, and proved to 

 be an equally good solvent of these peculiar principles with the 

 oil of turpentine ; over which, indeed, it possesses some advan- 

 tages, in the view, particularly, should it ever be found neces- 

 sary, of procuring the substance in the utmost degree of 

 purity, and at rio great price. 



