250 Experiments on the Sanguinaria canadensis. 



sions, and paper stained with the infusion of the purple cabbage, 

 to a green. 



§5. 



To the substance thus obtained, I have ventured to give 

 the name Sanguinarina, or Sanguinarine ; but the first name 

 is preferable, as the termination in a is in accordance with the 

 name of the other alkaline bodies. 



Sanguinarina may be obtained from the roots of the S. 

 canadensis by several processes : 



1st. By infusing the powdered root in warm water, and 

 adding to it a small quantity of ammonia, potash, lime, or 

 magnesia, a precipitate falls, consisting of the impure sangui- 

 narina, which may be purified in the manner to be mentioned 

 below. 



2nd. By infusing the powdered root in water acidulated 

 with muriatic, or acetic acid, (and probably other acids would 

 produce the same effect,) a very red-colored solution is pro- 

 cured, from which ammonia, potash, lime or magnesia sepa- 

 rate the impure sanguinarina. When thus procured, it is of 

 a dark color, but may be purified by dissolving it in pure 

 alcohol, and pouring the solution into cold water ; a white 

 precipitate instantly appears, which after some time subsides: 

 or the alkali may be obtained pure, by boiling the impure 

 substance with recently prepared charcoal, suffering the liquor 

 to cool, and filtering. Alcohol poured on the filter, will dis- 

 solve the sanguinarina. 



Sanguinarina has the following properties : When first 

 obtained, it is white and colorless, but becomes of a yellowish 

 white, or nearly buff-colored, when exposed for a long time 

 to the air — a change which is probably due to the action of 

 carbonic acid. It is in the form of fine grains ; its taste is 



