Notice of PipcniK 353 



After the analysis given by Mr. Peletier piper iiigruiiij contains 

 a crystallizable substance (piperin) an acrid concrete oil, a volatile 

 balsamic oil, a gummy colored matter, an extractive princlplcj malic 

 and tartaric acids, amidon, bassorine, lignin and incidental salts. 



By following the methods of preparation heretofore given, I have 

 never succeeded without great pains in separating that acrid resiuo- 

 oleaginous compound so extremely embarrassing in the course of the 

 purification. 



It is evident from inspection that the greater part of the colorhig 



matter exists in the oirter pellicle of the grain ; all attempts to make 



I the separation by mechanical or other means proved fruitless and 



recourse to pulverization was found necessary. 



The pepper should be ground, and digested In alcoliol at 37^ or 

 40^ (Baume) at a smart distilling heat, an alembic with its water-batl 

 is at once convenient and economical; the whole should be adtatcd 



t 



1 



from time to time, and the fluid changed if necessary. I know of 

 no better indication of the entire extraction of the Piperin, than tlie 

 want of taste in the mark, or insoluble residue ; although acridity (as 

 has been represented,) is by no means a property of piperin. The 

 alcoholic solutions being united should be reduced over a water-bath. 

 The distillation ended, there will be found in the bottom of the al- 

 embic, a deposit composed of a great deal of piperin, and a black 

 acrid reslno-oleaghious substance ; the separation of this latter com- 

 pound from tlie piperin is difficult in the extreme, so much so diat 1 

 have seldom or never seen the preparation free from acridity, which 

 not only destroys, but produces a contrary effect to that desired when 

 employed as a remedy- The greater part of this viscous oil may be 

 separated by cold alcohol, piperin being much less soluble in this 

 menstruum when cold, than when warm and much less than the oil. 

 The latter portion maybe entirely separated by the addition of a 

 little lime to the warm soluUon of piperin with tlic oil, and leaving it 

 to crystallize in the same vase, wliich when cold may be separated 

 at leisure, redissolving die crystals thus procured with addition of a 

 little animal charcoal, and filtering when hot, which uj)on cooluig 

 will aiTord crystals of a canary white, regular and free from acridity. 



Mr. Pontel has advised the use of causUc potash, and the effect is 

 certainly very marked. The solution should be weak, for caustic Pol- 

 ash has a tendency to alter the nature of die substance, and instead 

 of procuring piperin, I once found a compound that resembled very 

 much that of soap, and all subsequent attempts to procure the substance 



Vol. XVm.~No. 2. 45 



