ON LOBELIA INFLATA. 105 
the resin. The residue had an unctuous feel, oily odour, and 
slightly acid taste. This substance left a greasy stain on pa- 
per, and inflamed readily, giving off black sooty smoke. It 
was then dissolved in a solution of potassa, with which it 
formed a saponaceous compound, as on the addition of muriate 
of lime, it gave the usual characteristic of soapy solutions. 
Experiment 9. — Two ounces of the plant were treated 
according to the process for obtaining emetia, but without a 
satisfactory result. 
Experiment 10. — Half a pound of the green plant was 
digested in one pint of water, acidulated with one drachm of 
concentrated acetic acid, for sixty hours, at a temperature of 
70° Fahrenheit; after which it was subjected to decantation 
and expression. 
This liquor, of which twelve fluid ounces were obtained, 
was saturated with pure magnesia, and filtered, when it was 
of a dark red brown hue, and had a very acrid taste. It was 
then treated with successive portions of sulphuric ether, at 
sixty Baume, until its acrimony was entirely removed. 
The ether, after separation from the infusion, had a gela- 
tinous consistence, owing, probably, to the presence of water, 
and some other matter. 
To the ethereal liquor thus obtained, a small quantity of 
the chloride of calcium was added and the mixture agitated, 
to separate the water, and the ethereal solution obtained pure 
and colourless. This, upon evaporation, yielded a small 
portion of brown transparent matter, of the consistence of 
thick ho.ney, having an intensely acrid taste, a strong, some- 
what aromatic odour, with a decided alkaline reaction on 
reddened litmus paper. 
Experiment 11. — An ounce and a half of the dried seeds 
of Lobelia, were digested in eight fluid ounces of water, acidu- 
lated with half a drachm of concentrated acetic acid, for 
thirty-six hours, decanted, filtered, and saturated with pure 
magnesia, and again filtered. The liquor thus obtained was 
transparent, of a dark olive green colour, of specific gravity 
1.01, and possessed of great acrimony. It was then treated 
VOL. III. NO, II. 14 
