REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 8-5 



8. Extractives, not reclissolved by "vrater and alcohol 1. 08 



9. Brown Lard resin 1. Gii 



10. Albuminoids; total nitrogen X 0.25 14.95 



11. Acid extract, containing starch isomers, by difference 15. 53 



12. Alkali extract, not nitro^-euons 4.78 



13. Gum and yellowish coloring matter 8. 98 



14. Crude fibre 19.46 



15. Ash, soluble in water, 1.75 ; soluble in acid, 4.15 5. 90 



16. Sand 1.41 



17. Moisture „ 8. G9 



100. 00 



The presence of an alkaloid in this plant in appreciable quantity is 

 certain, and the poisonous action upon animals which has been reported 

 is very probably due to the alkaloid chiefly. The following are some of 

 its chemical characteristics : 



a. SohiMlities. — It is freely soluble in water, hot and cold alcohol, 

 acids, alkalies, ancf alkaline carbonates. Ether, benzole, and chloroform 

 dissolve it sfjaringly. Amylic alcohol dissolves it freely. 



b. Reactions. — An acid (sulphuric or hydrocliloric) solution was pre- 

 cipitated by — 



1. Potassic mercuric iodide ("Mayer's reagent"). An abundant yel- 

 lowish amorphous precipitate ; soluble in alcohol ; less easily in ether. 



2. Phosphomolybdic acid (" Sonneschein's reagent"). An abundant 

 yellowish precipitate; soluble in ammonia to a greenish-blue liquid, 

 which fades on boiling ; acidulation with nitric acid causes a precipitate 

 apparently identical with that first formed. 



3. Iodine in potassic iodide. A brick-red amorphous precipitate, which 

 becomes nearly black upon standing with excess of iodine solution. 



4. Tannic acid (in aqueous solution to which a little alcohol was added). 

 A gray-brown precipitate ; somewhat soluble in acetic acid. 



5. Chloride of gold. A yellowish, amorphous i)recipitate. 



No precipitates were obtained in acid solutions with platinic chloride 

 or picric acid ; neither did picric acid precipitate a simple aqueous solu- 

 tion of the alkaloid. 



Since these reactions were recorded, an examination of the seeds of 

 the same plant has afforded opportunity for further investigation of the 

 properties of this alkaloid. Eeference is made to the analysis of the 

 seeds. 



It is possible, yet hardly probable, that the soft, yellow resin (3) may 

 have some deleterious properties. The " provings " to be made by Mr. 

 Wentz may throw some light upon this point. The other constituents 

 of possibly injurious properties are probably included in " Extractives 

 soluble in water and 80 per cent, alcohol" (7). The chances are, how- 

 ever, largely in favor of the alkaloid being the chief constituent of poi- 

 sonous properties. 



EXAMINATION OF THS SEEDS OF SOPHORA SERECIA. 



Received from Francis A. Wentz, Kinsley, Kans. 



These seeds have a taste much more persistent and bitter than that 

 of the herb. The following is a proximate analysis : 



1. Yellow fixed oil 9.37 



2. Alkaloid and red coloring matter 1.74 



3. Organic acid (malic) and color 4.45 



4. Extractive, soluble in alcohol and water * 12. 30 



5. Extractive, soluble in alcohol, not soluble in water 83 



6. Gum , 4.22 



