STUDY OF YUCCA ANGUSTIFOLIA 129 



tained; it was heated with anhydrous borax on platinum foil, 

 and gave the usual green-colored flame test for glycerin. The 

 alcoholic solution of the petroleum spirit residue was fraction- 

 ally precipitated with an alcoholic solution of magnesium 

 acetate, and traces of an amorphous residue were recovered. 1 

 The petroleum spirit residue was digested with water con- 

 taining sulphuric acid, and examined for alkaloids which are 

 sometimes brought down with fixed oils. The usual reagents 

 failed to detect traces of alkaloids. 



Extract (2), Wood o) the Root. 



The maceration was carried out under the same conditions 

 as in extract (i). 



The extract was a clear, colorless solution, neutral in reac- 

 tion. A drop of the liquid left no uniform spot on blue paper. 

 The extract was evaporated at the ordinary temperature. The 

 residue was light yellow- colored, of a semi-solid consistency 

 and melted at 36 C. A definite volume of the extract was 

 evaporated, dried, and weighed. 



TOTAL SOLIDS. 



Petroleum spirit residue dried at 100 C 0.55 per cent, of solids. 



" no C 0.35 " " " 



o^T " " loss. 



The residue was identified as a fixed oil, associated with 

 volatile fatty acids. The latter were indicated by the 0.2 per 

 cent, of loss, and the disagreeable odor of the residue which 

 was dissipated on heating at 110 C. 



The petroleum spirit residue from the extract was evapo- 

 rated at the ordinary temperature, dissolved with difficulty 

 in cold 95 per cent, alcohol, and in boiling weaker alcohol; 

 absolute alcohol hardened and discolored it. Concentrated sul- 

 phuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid did not appre- 

 ciably act on the residue. It was not saponified, but slowly 

 dissolved by boiling aqueous and alcoholic soda. The alco- 



1 Loc. cit., p. 1 6. 



