ON  GELSEMINIA. 
37 
fluidounces  (3),  water  added  carefully  to  precipitate  a  portion  of 
the  resin.  A  green  fixed  oil  removed  from  the  surface  of  the 
liquid  with  bibulous  paper  by  absorption,  filtered,  a  solution 
of  tannic  acid  added  until  a  precipitate  was  no  longer  produced ; 
the  mixture  allowed  to  settle,  poured  from  the  precipitate, 
filtered ;  the  filters  preserved  and  dried,  cut  into  small  pieces, 
and  with  the  precipitate  aforementioned  dried,  powdered  and 
digested  with  hydrated  sesquioxide  of  iron.  This  was  dried, 
exhausted  by  ether,  and  the  etherial  solution  evaporated  sponta- 
neously. 
•  The  result  to  the  naked  eye  exhibited  an  amorphous  mass,  but 
with  a  glass  of  ordinary  power  revealed  groupings  of  acicular 
crystals,  insoluble  in  water,  and  whose  solution  in  acid  by  the 
aid  of  heat  was  not  affected  by  either  iodohydrargyrate  of  potas- 
sium or  phosphomolybdic  acid. 
On  the  platinum  foil  heated  to  redness  no  trace  of  a  stain  was 
shown. 
Placed  upon  the  tongue  in  minute  quantity  a  slight  bitterness 
was  manifested,  and,  after  an  interval,  followed  by  a  decided 
acrimony,  extending  to  the  throat,  remaining  for  several  hours  ; 
this  acrimony,  however,  is  probably  due  to  the  presence  of  a 
slight  quantity  of  a  principle  resulting  from  the  next  experiment. 
The  solution  in  ether  having  failed  to  develope  an  alkaline  prin- 
ciple, strong  alcohol  was  poured  through  the  mass  just  treated 
with  ether,  the  same  being  freed  from  its  traces. 
Upon  evaporation,  groups  of  crystals  formed,  a  portion  of 
which  I  here  exhibit.  There  is  a  slight  resinous  impurity  also 
present,  but  not  sufficient  in  amount  to  embarass  the  complete 
exhibition  of  the  crystalline  structure.  The  solution  is  simply 
opalescent  by  reflected  light. 
This  result  gives  the  characteristic  reaction  with  Mayer's  test 
as  well  as  phosphomolybdic  acid,  and  restores  the  blue  color  of 
litmus  paper,  which  has  been  slightly  reddened  by  fumes  of  hy- 
<lrochloric  acid. 
Heated  on  platinum  foil  to  redness  it  inflames  and  is  dissi- 
pated with  scarcely  a  trace  of  stain. 
One-eighth  of  a  grain  troy  administered  to  a  young  cat  pro- 
duced the  symptomatic  effects  ascribed  to  an  over-dose  of  the 
drug,  accompanied  by  much  frothing  at  the  mouth,  and  result- 
