STUDY OF YUCCA ANGUSTIFOLIA 
129 
tained; it was heated with anhydrous borax on platinum foil, 
and gave the usual green-colored flame test for glycerin. The 
alcoholic solution of the petroleum spirit residue was fraction¬ 
ally precipitated with an alcoholic solution of magnesium 
acetate, and traces of an amorphous residue were recovered. 1 
The petroleum spirit residue was digested with water con¬ 
taining sulphuric acid, and examined for alkaloids which are 
sometimes brought down with fixed oils. The usual reagents 
failed to detect traces of alkaloids. 
Extract (2), Wood 0} the Root. 
The maceration was carried out under the same conditions 
as in extract (1). 
The extract was a clear, colorless solution, neutral in reac¬ 
tion. A drop of the liquid left no uniform spot on blue paper. 
The extract was evaporated at the ordinary temperature. The 
residue was light yellow-colored, of a semi-solid consistency 
and melted at 36° C. A definite volume of the extract was 
evaporated, dried, and weighed. 
TOTAL SOLIDS. 
Petroleum spirit residue dried at ioo° C.0.55 percent, of solids. 
“ “ “ iio° C.0.35 “ “ “ 
0.20 “ “ loss. 
The residue was identified as a fixed oil, associated with 
volatile fatty acids. The latter were indicated by the 0.2 per 
cent, of loss, and the disagreeable odor of the residue which 
was dissipated on heating at no° C. 
The petroleum spirit residue from the extract was evapo¬ 
rated at the ordinary temperature, dissolved with difficulty 
in cold 95 per cent, alcohol, and in boiling weaker alcohol; 
absolute alcohol hardened and discolored it. Concentrated sul¬ 
phuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid did not appre¬ 
ciably act on the residue. It was not saponified, but slowly 
dissolved by boiling aqueous and alcoholic soda. The alco- 
1 Loc. cit., p. 16. 
