17J: Dr. jSIitchell on the Physiological Actions of Spartine and Scoparine. 



latter body, than is generally supposed. Among the plants experimented 

 upon, and yielding these results, were the Bedford willow, the labur- 

 num, the mahogany, the apple tree, the hawthorn, the black currant, 

 the alder, the furze, the heather, turmeric, the alder, and the common 

 broom. 



Some peculiar exceptions, however, presented themselves : — The popu- 

 lus balsamifera, and the other plants of the poplar tribe, were found to 

 yield a new acid, which has been called the nitropopulic acid, and which 

 resembles, in several of its characters, indigotic acid. It is deposited in 

 silky needles, in groups having a concentric arrangement. The produc- 

 tion of this body, therefore, seems to characterize the poplar tribe, and is 

 probably the result of the action of NOj on the populine they contain. 



The extracts of the common oak and birch, yielded simply oxalic acid. 

 Neither nitropicric, nor any other analogous nitrogenated acid, could be 

 found. 



I have thus given in very brief and general terms, the results of these 

 interesting researches. 



As the extract of the spartium scoparium, or common broom, besides 

 yielding nitropicric acid, as above stated, exhibited some interesting 

 peculiarities, it was subjected to a more minute examination. 



When an aqueous decoction of this plant was concentrated to about 

 one tenth of its bulk, and set aside in a cool situation for half a-day, it 

 was converted into a gelatinous mass, of a greenish brown colour. This 

 jelly was then thrown upon a filter, and washed with cold water, slightly 

 acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and further purified by repeated 

 crystallizations out of hot water and spirit of wine. In this pure condi- 

 tion it consists of pale yellow prisms, and has a feebly acid reaction. Its 

 behaviour with chemical reagents is of a negative and doubtful character, 

 neither distinctly occupying the position of an acid or a base. Its 

 empyrical formula is C21 Hn Ojo. To this substance Dr. Stenhouse has 

 given the name scoparine, and with its physiological actions we shall 

 have shortly to deal. 



I now proceed to notice, with equal brevity, the chemical characters of 

 the other substance named in the heading of the paper. 



When the mother liquor from the crude scoparine has been concen- 

 trated to a moderate bulk, and distilled with an excess of soda, we obtain 

 in small quantity at the bottom of the receiver, a pale yellow basic oil, 

 which has been designated spartine. Its reaction is strongly alkaline, 

 the most powerful acids being completely neutralized by it. The base 

 itself is but slightly soluble in water, but disappears readily in alcohol and 

 ether. Its combinations, however, with NO5, SO3, and HCl, are 

 exceedingly soluble, and crystallize with great difficulty. With nitropic- 

 ric acid a body is formed, in long acicular crystals, scarcely difi'ering in 

 appearance from the compound of that acid with potash. Its formula is, 

 G,, H,3 N, Co H, N3 Oi3 + HO. 



The double chloride of platinum and spartine crystallises in rectangn- 



