390 Elater'mm. 



Dr. Paris proposes to call it, although an eighth part of a grain 

 will purge violently, yet not more than one-tenth of this virulent 

 substance possesses any active virtues. As Dr. P.'s experiments 

 are new, we shall insert them at full length : — 



" Experiments. — Series the First. 



" A. Ten grains of elaterium, obtained from a respectable 

 chemist, and having all the sensible properties which indicated 

 it to be genuine, were digested for twenty-four hours, with di- 

 stilled water, at a temperature far below that of boiling; four 

 grains only were dissolved. 



" B. The solution was intensely bitter, of a brownish yellow 

 colour, and was not in the least disturbed by alcohol, although a 

 solution of iodine produced a blue colour ; the solution, there- 

 fore, contained no gum, and only slight traces of starch. 



" C. The solution, after standing twenty-four hours, yielded 

 a pellicle of insoluble matter, which, when burnt, appeared to 

 resemble gluten. 



" D. The six grains which were insoluble in water were 

 treated, for forty-eight hours, with alcohol, of the specific gravity 

 .817, at 66" of Fahrenheit ; a green solution was obtained, but 

 by slow evaporation only half a grain of solid green matter was 

 procured. The insoluble residue obstinately adhered to and coated 

 the filter, like a varnish, and completely defended the mass from 

 the action of the alcohol : it is probable that it consisted princi- 

 pally offectila. 



" Experiments. — Series the Second. 



" E. Ten grains of elaterium, from the same sample, were 

 treated with alcohol, of the specific gravity .817, at 66" Fahren- 

 heit, for twenty-four hours ; upon being filtered, and the resi- 

 duum washed with successive portions of alcohol, the elaterium 

 was found to have lost only 1.6 of a grain. The high specific 

 gravity of the alcohol in this experiment was important; had it 

 been lower, different results would have been produced. 



" F. The alcoholic solution, obtained in the last experiment, 

 was of a most brilliant and beautiful green colour, resembling 

 that of the oil of cajeput, but brighter : upon slowly evaporating 

 it, 1.2 grain of solid green matter was obtained. 



" G. The solid green matter of the last experiment was treated 

 with boiling distilled water, when a minute portion was thus dis- 

 solved, and a solution of a most intensely bitter taste, and of a 

 brownish yellow colour, resulted. 



" H. The residue, insoluble in water, was inflammable, 

 burning with smoke, and an aromatic odour, not in the least bit- 

 ter ; it was soluble in alkalies, and was again precipitated from 

 them unchanged in colour; ii formed, with pure alcohol, a beau- 

 tiful 



