Scientific Intelligence. — Medical Chemistry. 385 



crystallization gives very white crystals.— fJoMr. de pJiarmacie, Bull. 

 Univ. A. xi. 382.) ^uar. Jour. Jul. — Sept. 1829. 



2. Plumbagine, a new vegetable substance, (Jour, de Phar.)- — M. 

 Dulong has obtained a particular vegeto-principle from the roots of 

 the Plumbago Europcea, Lin. This substance crystallizes readily 

 from alcohol, ether, or water, in the form of numerous yellow nee- 

 dles. On the tongue it first produces a sweet taste, followed by a 

 sharp acrid effect, extending to the throat. Its aqueous solution be- 

 comes cherry red by alkalies, subacetate of lead, permuriate of iron, 

 he. ; but acids restore the yellow color, and the plumbagine remains 

 unaltered. Besides this principle, the root contains a black fatty 

 matter, and gallic acid. As this root has been used in cases of itch, 

 tooth-ache, Stc, and is proposed to be administered as an emetic, it is 

 supposed tliat its active virtues will be found in the plumbagine, to 

 ascertain which experiments are in progress. — Quar. Jour. Jul. — 

 Sep. 1829. 



3. Analysis of Ipecacuanha Branca, Root of the Viola Ipecacu- 

 anha ; hy M. Vauquelin. (Jour, de Phar.) — The root of the Ipe- 

 cacuanha branca, is of a pale white, divided into many branches, of 

 the thickness of a writing pen, much twisted and contracted at une- 

 qual intervals. Its fracture is short, the odor of it disagreeable, the 

 taste acrid and nauseous ; the ligneous part is thicker than the bark. 

 The substances which compose this root are as follows by weight : 

 Emetine, 1.50; Resin, 0.60; Gum, 0.20; Albumen, 0.30; Starch, 

 3.20 ; matter crystalhzed in scales, 0.85 ; ligneous matter, 7.00 ; 

 fatty matter and wax, an indeterminate quantity : Total, 15.95 ; loss, 

 0.05.— Idem. 



4. Decomposition of Corrosive Sublimate by Vegetable Bodies. — ■ 

 According to the experiments of M. Fabian, the mucilage of quince 

 seed, (semence de coing) and that of salop, decomposes corrosive sub- 

 limate the instant it is mixed with its solution ; but the decoction of 

 marshmallow does not produce the same effect, and the extract of li- 

 quorice only partially. — Idem. 



5. Rosaic Acid in Human Urine. (Jour.de Phar. XV. 228.) — 

 M. Henry has observed in certain cases of acute rhetimatism, ac- 

 companied by nervous fever, that the urine has been of a very red 

 color, and produced an abundant deposit on cooling. On analyzing 



Vol. XVll.— No. 2. 22 



