Experiments on the Sanguinaria canadensis. 249 



Or, Vegetable matter, . . . 195 grs. 

 Saline and earthy matter, . 5 •• 



200 



§4. 



The analysis of vegetable substances, made in the manner 

 above-mentioned, can be of very limited utility, except per- 

 haps for the purposes of pharmacy. This analysis has failed 

 altogether in separating the coloring principle, and the prin- 

 ciple in which resides the acrid quality of the root ; and the 

 substances which it has presented to us, may perhaps with 

 propriety be considered as products of the processes, formed 

 by the re-action of the vegetable principles upon each other. 

 Other experiments were therefore instituted, both with a view 

 of obtaining the coloring and the acrid principle. 



A portion of the dried root in fine powder was digested in 

 absolute alcohol : the liquid, after the lapse of several hours, 

 was separated by filtration ; it was of a deep red color. A 

 few drops of this solution evaporated to dryness on a watch- 

 glass, afforded a light brown matter ; water digested on it a 

 yellow color, and an acrid taste; and the portion insoluble in 

 water, became of a lighter color by the action of that liquid, 

 and changed the color of turmeric paper to a reddish brown. 

 It appeared probable that this effect was produced by a 

 vegeto-alkali. A few drops of the aqueous solution of ammo- 

 nia were added to a portion of the solution, which threw down 

 a gray precipitate : this was allowed to subside, and the fluid 

 was decanted : water was then added, and boiled, with some 

 freshly prepared and finely pulverized charcoal, and the whole 

 filtered, and the portion on the filter was washed with cold 

 water. Alcohol was then digested on the matter remaining 

 on the filter, and afterward was evaporated to dryness : a white 

 pearly substance remained, having an acrid taste, and render- 

 ing brown the yellow of the turmeric, and changing the infu- 



