Cdfnus Florida. 
ni 
been satisfactorily demonstrated : and as has been observed, 
" surely they can have a very limited desire for the progress 
of that branch of science with which their interests are so 
closely allied, who would for a moment withhold any infor- 
mation that would tend to cultivate a spirit of research among 
the pharmaceutical profession ; however small the amount of 
information communicated might be, it would still constitute 
an accession to the general mass, and as such, would not fail 
to produce its good effects." 
With a desire of making known the actual constituents of 
this substance, I have been induced to venture the result of a 
few experiments, which will not be characterized by the ac- 
curacy and precision, or by that originality of research which 
should be the aim of the analytical investigator ; and for the 
many imperfections, of which I must beg to be considered as 
an apology, the very few facilities under which I unavoidably 
operated. 
Experiments. — The decoction, which was of a light red 
colour, and slight mucilaginous appearance, formed a pre- 
cipitate with a solution of subacetate of lead, which con- 
sisted of gum, colouring matter, and other foreign substances. 
A precipitate was also formed with pure alcohol. 
Upon the addition of water to the tincture, concentrated 
by evaporation, it threw down a curdy precipitate, which, 
upon examination, was found to be resin. 
The decoction and tincture redden litmus paper, and cause 
a yellowish precipitate in a solution of gelatine, and one of a 
dark olive green in a solution of sulphate of iron. They also 
afford precipitates with sulphuric and muriatic acids, lime 
water, alumina, the carbonates of ammonia and potassa, tar- 
trate of antimony and potassa. The colour becomes lighter 
on the addition of nitric acid, milky by the corrosive chloride 
of mercury, and has its colour deepened by ammonia. 
A portion of the bark was digested in sulphuric ether for a 
few days, and filtered. The etherial tincture was of a lemon 
colour and reddened litmus paper, and on evaporation depo- 
sited on the sides of the vessel a fatty matter, insoluble in wa- 
ter, but soluble in alcohol, leaving a greasy stain upon paper ; 
