KOTES ON BARK OF CARISSA OYATA. 
279 
acetate of lead, removing the lead by sulphuretted hydrogen, and 
evaporating to a honey consistence at a gentle heat on the water bath. 
The residue was very impure, showing that decomposition had readily 
taken place. It was thus seen that this method would have to be 
abandoned, as either the glucoside was decomposed by the sulphuretted 
hydrogen, or by the small amount of acetic acid set free, when th i 
solution was evaporated to a stiff consistence ; the residue having in ail 
these cases a sugary smell. The method by which the best results 
were obtained, after many others had been tried, was by thoroughly 
extracting by hot water the finely ground bark, evaporating this to a 
small bulk, and adding rectified alcohol to precipitate mucilaginous 
substances, gum, &c. The filtrate was then evaporated down to a 
small quantity by distillation or on the water bath (low temperature 
on water bath being used in all cases), and water added. This 
forms a precipitate, and requires to be gently heated to remove all 
substances soluble in water. A small quantity of resinous bodies 
is thus removed. To this aqueous solution, which is dark, a very 
small quantity of basic acetate of lead is added. This removes 
the worst of the colouring matters and some of the tannic acid. 
The filtrate is then evaporated to perfect dryness with a large 
quantity of oxide of lead, and then the bitter glucoside is boiled out 
from this, with rectified alcohol. A solution is thus obtained free from 
tannic acid, mucilaginous substances, colouring matters, &c. The 
solution is almost colourless, the least trace of a primrose tint being 
seen. The alcohol thus obtained from the repeated boilings is 
evaporated to a honey consistence, when it is very slightly yellow, 
and consists largely of cauliflower-headed masses, which increase in 
quantity on standing. The substance thus obtained, when dissolved in 
water and filtered, does not reduce an alkaline copper solution in the 
cold but very slightly, and only slightly when raised to boiling point ; 
but on continued boiling the glucoside is decomposed, when heated 
with a few drops of acid, and the copper solution when added is 
instantly reduced. When dried at a temperature of 90-95° Cent, 
in an air bath, at which temperature it dries hard, and allowed to 
remain in the air, moisture is taken up, and the varnish soon becomes 
quite moist ; it is thus very deliquescent. 
Five determinations were made for the detection of nitrogen in 
the substance obtained in various ways, but in no instance was it 
detected. Nitrogen is therefore absent, and consequently the active 
principle is not an alkaloid. 
It is exceedingly bitter and persistent, causing nausea and 
headache. It is very poisonous. Six minims of an aqueous solution 
of the strength of about 10 or 15 per cent, (the exact strength was 
not ascertained), were injected under the skin on the shoulder of a 
half* grown kitten ; the kitten was dead in ten minutes; it died with- 
out a struggle, slight twitchings being observable a few miuutes longer. 
The purified glucoside as thus obtained is totally insoluble in 
petroleum spirit, ether, and chloroform ; slightly soluble in absolute 
alcohol in the cold, much more on boiling. This alcoholic extract dries 
as a varnish, but it takes np moisture and goes into the globular- 
headed masses. 
Dilute alcohol dissolves it readily. It is not readily soluble in a 
small quantity of water in the cold at that stage, but readily dissolves 
