492 
ON  GILLENIA  TRIFOLIATA. 
Lewis  says,  « this  preliminary  step  (the  addition  of  ether)  appears 
to  be  hardly  necessary,  however,  and  in  some  operations  was 
dispensed  with  as  superfluous."  In  fact,  as  Mr.  Ruch  declares 
that  the  alcoholic  watery  extract,  prepared  like  the  impure  French 
emetia,  is  soluble  in  ether,  there  is  some  reason  for  supposing 
that  the  previous  action  of  the  ether,  if  added  freely,  is  injurious, 
since  some  of  the  active  principles  may  also  be  taken  up  and  lost. 
The  third  experiment  of  Mr.  Lemberger  confirms  this  view.  He 
digested  «  eight  ounces  of  coarsely  powdered  root  for  several 
days  in  sulphuric  ether,  and  then  displaced  it  by  frequent  additions 
of  the  same  menstruum  until  it  passed  through  colorless."  The 
residual  powder  was  displaced  with  alcohol  to  get  the  alcoholic 
extract,  and  this  in  turn  dissolved  in  water  and  evaporated  down, 
when  a  "product  not  exceeding  one  grain  in  weight"  was  ob- 
tained. 
If  there  was  no  fallacy  in  the  experiment,  ether  must  be  a  good 
solvent,  capable  of  taking  up  and  holding  the  active  principle  in 
solution  ;  otherwise  more  than  one  grain  of  extract  would  have 
been  obtained  from  half  a  pound  of  the  root.  Mr.  Wyeth  adopted 
the  following  plan  for  concentrating  the  active  principles. 
"  Adding  to  a  portion  of  water  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid,  the 
cortical  portions  of  the  root ;  digest  in  a  water-bath  for  twelve 
hours,  then  filter,  add  carbonate  of  lime  to  saturation  and  again 
filter.  Digest  the  residue  left  on  the  filter  with  alcohol,  filter  the 
liquor  thus  obtained,  mix  it  with  the  former  liquor,  and  then 
evaporate  to  consistence  of  an  extract.  Treat  with  water,  then 
filter  the  resulting  liquor  and  evaporate."  The  same  experimenter 
says :  «  A  portion  of  alcoholic  extract  treated  with  water  was  of 
a  nauseous,  bitter  taste,  but  not  so  decided  as  that  obtained  by 
acidulated  water  in  the  process  mentioned  above." 
Properties  of  Alcoholic  Watery  Extractive. — It  is  in 
scales  of  a  light  yellowish-brown  color,  transparent  and  deliques- 
cent ;  of  a  bitter,  nauseous  taste,  leaving  an  acrid  impression  in 
the  fauces ;  soluble  in  water,  alcohol,  and  ether  (?) ;  and  affords 
precipitates  with  solution  of  tannin,  acetate  and  subacetate  of 
lead,  and  nitrate  of  silver.  It  appears  to  be  nearly  neutral  in 
its  reactions. 
Remedial  properties. — Mr.  Ruch  says  the  extractive  "proved 
emetic  in  the  dose  of  three  grains,  administered  in  divided  doses." 
