424 
DR. JOHN STENHOUSE ON THE ACTION OF 
by oxidizing it, and when it is digested with nitric acid it is converted into nitro- 
picric acid. Bromine changes the colour of gelatinous scoparine into brownish- 
yellow, but yields no crystalline product. A solution of scoparine produces no pre- 
cipitate, either with corrosive sublimate or nitrate of silver. With neutral and basic 
acetate of lead it yields greenish yellow, flocculent precipitates, whieh are neither 
copious nor stable. Scoparine, when dried in vacuo, did not lose any weight when 
afterwards heated to 212° Fahr. When sufficiently heated in a glass tube, it melts 
into a dark brownish resin, but yields no sublimate. When strongly heated in the 
open air, it catches fire and burns with a bright yellow flame. 
I. Of scoparine, crystallized several times out of ordinary spirit of wine, 0’2740 grm., 
dried in vacuo, gave 0*578 carbonic acid and 0*134 water. 
II. 0*286 grm. scoparine, crystallized out of absolute alcohol, gave 0*606 carbonic 
acid and 0*135 water. 
III. 0*2725 grm. gelatinous scoparine, out of absolute alcohol, gave 0*578 carbonic 
acid and 0*133 water. 
IV. 0*210 grm. residue of scoparine, left from the treatment with alcohol, dissolved 
in ammonia, precipitated with acetic acid and crystallized out of hot water, gave 
0*444 carbonic acid and 0*099 water. 
V. 0*2776 grm. gelatinous scoparine, purified only with water, gave 0*586 carbonic 
acid and 0*131 water. 
Calculated numbers. 
Found numbers. 
I. 
II. 
III. 
IV. 
V. 
21 C 
1575*0 
58*09 
57*53 
57*76 
57*83 
57*66 
57*60 
11 H 
137*5 
5*06 
5*43 
5*24 
5*41 
5*23 
5*42 
100 
1000*0 
36*88 
37*04 
37*00 
36*76 
37*11 
36*98 
2712*5 
100*00 
100*00 
100*00 
100*00 
100*00 
100*00 
The formula C21 
P 
0 
which has been deduced from these 
analyses 
of scoparine. 
is merely empirical, as I have not as yet been enabled to obtain any definite combi- 
nation from which its atomic weight might be ascertained. From what has been 
stated above respecting scoparine, it evidently belongs to the pretty numerous class of 
colouring matters, which, if they can be said to possess any determinate chemical 
character, are merely extremely feeble acids. Indeterminate, however, as the che- 
mical characters of scoparine certainly are, and notwithstanding its seeming inert- 
ness, it appears to possess important medical virtues ; for from a pretty extensive 
series of experiments, made both on animals and men, I am induced to conclude that 
scoparine is the diuretic principle of broom. Broom was highly prized and recom- 
mended as a diuretic both by Mead and Cullen, who found it highly effective in 
the reduction of dropsical affections ; and in more modern times, Drs. Pearson and 
Pereira recommend it as more certain than any other diuretic in dropsies. I shall 
advert to this subject again, however, before the close of the paper. 
