DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 993 



B. CHEMISTEY. 

 1. Seeds. 



Composition. — In order to ascertain the general composition of the seeds, a weighed 

 quantity, after having been carefully powdered, was dried at 100° F. and extracted by 

 percolation, first with petroleum ether, boiling below 50° C. (100° F.), and then with 

 anhydrous ethyl ether. After the ether had been completely removed by exposure to 

 the air and to a moderate heat, the residue was divided into two equal portions, one of 

 which was extracted with rectified spirit, and the other with distilled water, and in the 

 latter solution the mucilage and albumen were estimated. The water was estimated by 

 heating a separate quantity of ground seeds to 212° F. ; and this, also, was used for the 

 determination of the inorganic matter by combustion. Stated in percentages, the results 

 were — 



Analysis No. 1. 



Water, ............. 6-7 per cent. 



Petroleum ether extract (chiefly fat), . . . . . . . 31-81 „ 



Ethyl ether extract (resin, chlorophyle, &c), ...... 0*845 „ 



Rectified spirit extract (20 of rectified spirit to 1 of seeds), ... 8 "94 „ 



Water extract, { Mucila S e > • ■ • ■ ?-35 » 



I Albumen, ......... 1*95 „ 



Ash, 3-514 „ 



61-109 

 Undetermined constituents, . . . . . . . . . 38 -891 



100000 



Analysis No. 2. 



In a second analysis, in which the same processes were adopted, with seeds from the 

 same parcel as those and in the first analysis, the chief results were — 



Water, ............. 6-35 per cent. 



Petroleum ether extract, . . . . . . . . . . 31-725 ,, 



Ethyl ether extract, 0-905 „ 



Rectified spirit extract (20 of rectified spirit to 1 of seeds), ... 9*1 „ 



Water extract, J Murilaga, 7-142 „ 



I Albumen, 2-03 „ 



In many other analyses, no attempt was made to estimate the water, mucilage, 

 albumen, and inorganic matter, but the seeds were merely extracted with ethyl ether 

 followed by rectified spirit, or with rectified spirit alone. It was early found that the fat 

 and mucilage present in the seeds rendered water an inappropriate menstruum for remov- 

 ing the active principle ; and for the same reason even dilute alcohol, in the form of proof 



