/ 
REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. . 287 
The resulta of the more detailed proximate analyses were as fol- 
lows: 
Approximate analyses of Opuntia species, Cacanapo. 
Older and thicker Younger specimen. 
specimen, 
Orig- Orig- 
wate Dry substance. ney Dry substance. 
stance. stance. 
RSENS eA cra cab vis: dap dete levarerd 14.2) ab oon ssiate Bi uta sa a ie halen /2 86.885] ose ee octet 
Ash: | 
SUNT) See 2S ey SC ee eed oes Ron nee 1.76 | 12.48 } ( . 90 6.88 
Renae PLES GOT wr 575 15. 5 ew ald a onion seine wietayetniae sas, gh .80 | 5.66 }20.84 1.22 9. 32 18.36 
Saliblelin 80 per cant. alcohol. ....2)...25..0.6.00, '38| 270 § Ul 128] 2.16 
Volatile oil, Gther, CXtraecb. 6.065. ede ce eeg een ene 01 .08 01 . 06 
MOtSOLe (ab, CLUOL CXDPACE. fo. c.. ccc ne cne ccs ceenseee 22° 290 .10 . 76 
Aromatic bitter resin, 80 per cent. aleohol extract.... 13 . 98 rie 84 
Organic acid, 80 per cent. alcohol extract ............ | 58 | 3.74 Lox gs ) . 68 5.19 | op 01 
Glucoside, éte., 80 per cent. alcohol extract........... B05} 21569. § Sse 1.94) 14.862 { “ 
Vegetable mucilage and organic salts containing ash,|{ 1.59 | 11.31 | 16.973 3.03 | 23.08 [ 32. 40 
SPR ERTRE RTE CUP RCD Mila teschan cle cos Savs Byer d ale n cirainraavs Sete Ota P80] seb] fp) LseBll * (S28BT jee 
Soluble in acid, pararabin, starch, and oxalate of 
uREE me Ree mrs er SR Ae i's ohana’ ole e oie's wave gheia'’® 2.84 | 20.17 3.09 | 23.57 
Re IIEMPCRLTISELECARIT Ao ape gna es civ co otsie arspa sca oiessitinw aie vie oo ale 1.45 | 10.34 44 3.37 
RETTIG LEM ee. 1d hen Y oe Det e nicieeies «oie Coe case .90 | 6.37 .53 4.04 
MOPRPIE Pe UIMAINOWS 92 oy. fect. ae Pienc ces oSoc eles cece ce selen 51 | 3.63 aH 5. 91 
rat ersreel ee cers nclirs hopes cate ee ameraniere oeieseisel| ear iee 58 1 eee ieee . 86 
Tin GLC eL. Esai 00 ts Coe eee eae eee ee eae ae eee ese I ntOB4E op MRE co accent ee ae peeremnats 
MORWAUGN GXPOHOD It. : ef L SN le. cele bee bee aes ces clle ces loeacenabe le eee(aG 10)” CIR ee allt. caieectaeterteerets 
PRMICHICADICH Se Thome h ee ties thas te auaeoe whose sens |eiescatadres eaoel ye Wee RINE hs 195 
| 
It will be seen that, as in the Dasylirion and Agave, a glucoside 
was found. This also rotates the ray to the left, and is readily in- 
verted with the formation of an acid. It was obtained in small 
amount in crystalline form, but not sufficient for extended exam- 
ination. Owing to its partial decomposition the alcohol extract of 
the plant has an acid reaction. The other prominent constituent of 
the nitrogen-free extract is a vegetable mucilage which is present as 
a magnesia compound, the latter being a prominent ash constituent 
The value of this as a nutrient is uncertain, and the presence of’so 
much magnesia may cause the purging, which would then be greater 
with the younger plants, which agrees with the opinion that the 
plant is more so when the sap is init. The mucilage polarizes left- 
handed, but less so after treatment with acid. It is precipitated by 
one volume of alcohol from water, but not by lime-water. 
There seems to be some relation between the glucose and muci- 
lage in the plant, for where one becomes abundant the other dimin- 
ishes proportionally, the younger portions containing more mucilage 
and less glucoside. 
Of other constituents it was observed that the alkalinity of the 
ash of the leaves corresponded to the following amounts of organic 
matter in the plant, calculated as oxalic acid : 
Per cent. 
COLIC STE AICS EEE IE Be TD SR es ee ee AR Ae eee TR RST OS ces ie Pracy 11.05 
DUEL IMC AIGR OS Pate cok ey Nk ang Nel Slouch cag: s) 6.4.6 9 lala st Seavk sieve, sia ala. aie & lone Be EAA ails 29.54 
An examination showed that the acid present was not largely 
oxalic, but some other forming a soluble Mine but insoluble lead 
salt ; in fact probably a mixture of several. 
The fat was of a nature solid at ordinary temperatures, but small 
in amount, and accompanied by a trace of volatile oil. 
The substance insoluble in water but soluble in dilute acid was in 
part nearly related to pararabin, together with a little starch and 
