I — Read the following letter, and see the 

 ■ foilowing page for explanation. 



Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 



Boston, Alarch 9th, 1887. 

 ,T.Hs Wm, S. Meriisll Chemical Co. 



Cincinnati, O. 



Gsntlemex: — I have carefully examined the solution called 

 *'Lioyd's Hydrastis,'^ supposed to contain Hydrastin, the white 

 alkaliid of Hydrastia. The sample examined was purchased from 

 B. O. & G. C. Wilson, of Boston. The solution is a glycerine 

 preparation. It contains Alumina and Magnesia, and traces of an 

 organic base, which may be Hydrastin; — the quantity is too small 

 for determination. The white precipitate caused by the addition 

 of Ammonia- water to "Lloyd's Hydrastis" is a mixture of hydrate 

 of Alumina and hydrate of Magnesia, and is not an alkaloid. A 

 pint bottle of "Lloyd's Hydrastis" contained 19^ grains of Alumina 

 and 15-J grains of Magnesia. 



Yours very truly, 



Lewis M. Norton, 



[Professor of Organic Chemistry, 



Massachusetts Institute of Technology.] 



