CARKOT. 143 



ter, 98 parts of nutritive matter, and about 3 parts of starch; 

 1000 parts of parsnip 5'ield ninety parts of sugar, while the 

 same quantity of common turnips aifords only thirty-four 

 parts. 



M. Braconnot discovered a substance which he designated 

 pectic acid, and believed to be present in ail vegetables, but he 

 extracted it chiefly from the carrot. It has since been examined 

 by Vauquelin *. In order to obtain pectic acid, the carrots are 

 made into a pulp, the juice is expressed, and the solid part well 

 washed with distilled water. It is then boiled for about ten 

 minutes, with a very dilute solution of pure potash, or bicar- 

 bonate of potash, in the proportion of 5 parts to 100 of the 

 washed pulp, and muriate of lime is added to the filtered liquor. 

 The precipitate, consisting of pectic acid and lime, is well wash- 

 ed ; and the lime removed by water, acidulated with muriatic 

 acid. The liquid is then thrown upon a linen cloth, and the 

 pectic acid is obtained, and may be washed with tlie greatest 

 facility with pure water. 



Pectic acid thus obtained is in the form of a jelly. It is in- 

 soluble in cold water and acids, and nearly so in boiling water. 

 On the addition of a few drops of ammonia, it liquefies readily. 

 It is remarkable for the extreme facility with which it gelatinizes 

 large quantities of sugared water. One part of this acid dis- 

 solved in hot water, and added to 300 parts of sugared water, 

 instantly forms a mass of trembling jelly ; on this account it may 

 be found useful in the preparation of various jellies. The solu- 

 ble pectates are very valuable, as antidotes in cases of poison- 

 ing by several of the metallic salts. 



The seeds of the wild carrot are thought to be superior to 

 those of the cultivated kind, and are recommended for medicinal 

 purposes. By distillation, or evaporation, water elevates the 

 whole of their smell, and aromatic taste ; if large quantities are 

 distilled, a yellowish essential oil is obtained, having a pungent 

 taste, and a powerful odour. Rectified spirit takes up all their 

 virtues bv digestion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The expressed juice, or 

 a decoction of this root, as well as the seeds, were considered 

 by the older physicians as possessing .specific qualities against 



* Annales de Chimie et de Phys., xxviii. 17:^. 



