_.these two materials practically, and conclude that for detergent 1 
- Lignumvite bark. 
184 REPORT OF THE Goumbarannn ne AGRICULTURE, 
ae 
Messrs. McKesson & Roun, of New York, have, however, t 
poses the Quillaye bark is worth three or four times as much as 
This practical result is dye, doubtless, in great part, to the great diffi. 
culty i in extracting the Saponin from the Lignumvite bark, as in analysis © 
it was found practically impossible to remove it completely, ne ab ove 
results are therefore only approximate. oe 
The percentages above given of Saponin are the averages from a large es 
number of determinations, which in the case of the Quillaye were of very — 
close agreement. : 
“LOCO,” OB POISON WEED. 
: 2 a ae 4 
ey) OR 
The following letter, accompanying a small parcel of the-weed, 7 
received, and the roots and leaves were submitted to an examination — 
for the vegetable alkaloids, as the symptoms described resemble doa 
the effect of certain of these vegetable poisons, but none were found. 
The plant is the Ozytropis ‘Lamberti, one of the Leguminose, ad 
reference has been made to it in a previous report (1874, p. 169). e y 
A farther examination will be made of ther plant, and any facts con- 
cerning it are desired by the department. 
An examination of thig weed by Miss Catherine M. Watson, of Ann Ar. — 
bor, Mich., is reported in the American Journal of Pharmacy, December, — 
1878. The plant was obtained from Rosita, Colorado, and she reports 
the presence in small quantity of an alkaloid and a resin. Thedried 
root was taken by way of experiment in four forty-grain doses within 
one and a half hours, with no other perceptible effect than a slight 
smarting of the eyelids and slight colic pains. One and a half ounce of 
the fluid extract was given to a kitten two months old with no percept- 
ible effect. 
: BOMBIC ACID. 
A specimen of so-called bombie acid, being a secretion of the ‘silk- 
worm, was submitted for examination by the entomologist of the depart- — 
ment. 
This liquid was neutral totest paper. With alcohol a flocculent mass 
resembling mucilage was precipitated. The alcoholic filtrate was also 
neutral, and upon evaporation left a slight residue, nearly colorless, 
which under the mier: ‘scope appeared like | a few oil globules and a little 
Wax. 
From these reactions the So- called bombie acid appears te me a hypo- 
thetical substance. 
ing - . 
a eS ea 
COVERING OF EGGS OF INSECTS. 
Ai the request of the entomologist, analysis was made of the white 
covering of the eggs of the Cor; ydalus cornutus Linn., found upon oak 
leaves. . 
The powdered substance was treated with a mixture of alcohol and — 
ether, and 11.14 per cent. of a white amorphous substance was extracted, 
insoluble in wate r, partially soluble in alcohol, and freely soluble in : 
ether. In these respects and in its _physical properties it closely re- 
sembled wax. ; 
The amount of albuminoids calculated from total nitrogen was 28.60 
per cent. The amount of ash was 1.83 percent. The quantity of the 
substance submitted for analysis was too small to permit further deter- os 
minations. a 
ee are 
Me Aco ee, 
