Experiments on the Sanguinaria canadensis. 251 



extremely acrid; but it requires a long time to develope its 

 taste, in consequence of its little solubility. The impression 

 gradually extends over the mouth and fauces, and down the 

 oesophagus, and becomes painful : sickness and debility 

 ensue. 



Sanguinarina is very sparingly soluble in water ; but is 

 soluble in ether, and very soluble in alcohol. It affords a pre- 

 cipitate with tincture of galls, insoluble in ammonia, but 

 soluble in alcohol. 



The alcoholic solution evaporated, leaves a white pearly 

 crystalline crust or mass. 



Sanguinarina combines with acids, and forms salts : all the 

 salts are olored, and present some shade of red, crimson, or 

 scarlet, and the color is of great intensity and beauty. The 

 change of color which takes place when the white alkali is 

 combined with a white and colorless acid, is a peculiarly 

 striking effect. The muriate, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, 

 acetate, and tartrate, have been made the subjects of experi- 

 ment: they all have more or less of an acrid taste : the mu- 

 riate and the acetate are peculiarly pungent and acrid. The 

 salts are soluble in water and in alcohol, and form red-colored 

 solutions of great beauty. The white alkali, when exposed 

 to vapor of acids, instantly changes to a red. 



When ammonia, potash, lime or magnesia, is added to the 

 solutions of the combinations of sanguinarina with acids, the 

 vegeto-alkaline matter is separated, or its salts are decomposed, 

 and the sanguinarina is obtained in an unaltered state, if it has 

 been acted on by a dilute acid ; but if it have been combined 

 with a concentrated acid, ammonia or the other alkalies will 

 separate it in an altered state. Thus if the vegeto-alkali be 

 added to strong muriatic acid, or strong nitric acid, a red- 

 colored compound is procured, from which ammonia sepa- 

 rates a dark purple precipitate. This precipitate is soluble 

 in alcohol, and forms a reddish-colored solution, and appear; 



Vol. IT. 32 



