OBSERVATIONS  ON  ANAGALLIS  ARVENSIS.  303 
loid,  but  after  many  experiments  I  observed  nothing  which 
would  indicate  the  existence  of  such  a  principle.  The  fact  is,  that 
after  many  trials,  I  separated  a  mass  composed  of  very  fine  and 
needle-shaped  crystals ;  but  whether  they  are  a  crystalline 
principle,  or  are  the  result  of  the  complexity  of  the  reaction 
from  the  employment  of  the  different  tests  and  reagents,  it  re- 
mains a  question  which  I  cannot  determine  at  present.  The 
mode  of  obtaining  these  crystals  is  as  follows  :  The  fresh  herb 
was  macerated  with  alcohol,  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid,  dis- 
placed, and  the  resulting  tincture  filtered  and  treated  with  lime, 
until  it  evinced  an  alkaline  reaction.  The  liquor  was  again  fil- 
tered and  treated  with  sulphuric  acid  in  excess,  filtered  and  con- 
centrated by  evaporation.  To  the  residue  a  little  water  was 
added,  and  the  liquor  evaporated  until  all  the  alcohol  was  driven 
off,  again  filtered,  the  filtered  liquor  saturated  with  carb.  potassa, 
agitated  with  successive  portions  of  ether  and  evaporated  spon- 
taneously, when  a  crystalline  mass  was  formed,  which  was  puri- 
fied by  washing  with  successive  portions  of  water. 
8.  A  portion  of  the  herb  was  displaced  with  ether,  the  result- 
ing tincture  spontaneously  evaporated,  which  afforded  a  greasy 
extract,  indicating  the  presence  of  fixed  oil. 
9.  To  an  alcoholic  extract  freed  from  chlorophylle,  I  added 
liquor  ammonia,  then  muriatic  acid,  and  agitated  the  whole. 
Now,  on  adding  ether,  a  separation  took  place,  dividing  the 
liquid  in  two  layers,  the  upper  holding  the  resin  in  solution,, 
which  was  removed  and  evaporated  spontaneously  in  a  watch- 
glass.  Dissolving  the  residue  left  after  evaporation  in  a  small 
quantity  of  ether,  I  pour  it  into  a  vial,  and  after  evaporation 
the  pure  resin  was  left. 
10.  My  last  and  most  satisfactory  experiment  resulted  in  the 
production  of  a  small  quantity  of  volatile  oil,  the  product  of  a 
large  quantity  of  Chickweed  (3  lbs.  Troy  of  the  dried  herb),  ob- 
tained by  distillation  of  different  portions  of  the  herb.  I  have 
preserved  this  oil  for  the  use  of  the  "College  Cabinet,"  and 
also  a  portion  of  the  distilled  water,  impregnated  with  the  pecu- 
liar odor  and  flavor  of  the  plant.  The  odor  of  the  oil  is  strong 
and  perceptible,  like  that  of  cages  in  which  birds  are  fed  with 
Chickweed.  It  has  a  pungent  and  somewhat  acrid  taste,  lighter 
than  water,  sp.  gravity  being  0-987.    It  is  soluble  in  alcohol, 
