Experiments on the Sanguinaria canadensis. 245 



An Account of some Experiments on the Root of the San- 

 guinaria canadensis. By James Freeman Dana, M.D. 

 Professor of Chemistry in the University of the State of 

 New-York. Read March 26, 1S27. 



$1. 



In July 1824, I commenced a series of experiments on 

 the blood-root, with a view to discover some method of 

 separating the coloring principle, and of making it useful in 

 the arts. The object of the experiments was not attained j 

 but in the course of the investigation, some circumstances 

 occurred which indicated the presence of alkaline matter, and 

 the researches which have been made on it, have led to the 

 inference that it is a peculiar vegeto-alkali. Whether it be 

 entitled to rank or not, it will, in the following account, be 

 called Sanguinarine, or Sanguinarina.* 



§2. 



The root, by drying, loses about one-seventh part of its 

 weight. When the recent root is boiled in water, and the 

 liquid filtered, a brownish yellow solution is obtained, which 

 presents the following results by the action of re-agents : 



J . Solution of pure potash produces a greenish precipitate, 

 which, on the addition of acids, becomes of a fine red color. 



* In April 1826, a friend showed me a notice in the New- York Medical 

 and Physical Journal, of a chemical examination of Blood-root by Dr. 

 Bird, who made it the subject of an Inaugural Dissertation. Alkaline 

 matter was found in it, and supposed to be the same as that afforded by Po- 

 ruvian Bark. I have never seen the original memoir. 



Vol. II. 31 



