278 
Sanguinaria  Canadensis. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm.. 
June,  1881. 
ing  the  resin  and  giving  a  dark  red  filtrate.  The  filtrate  when  ren- 
dered alkaline  with  ammonia  gave  a  pnrplish  precipitate ;  the  precipi- 
tate was  washed  and  dissolved  in  ether ;  hydrochloric  acid  gas  was  then; 
passed  into  the  ethereal  solntion  till  no  further  precipitation  occurred.. 
A  dense  bright  red  precipitate  of  hydrochlorate  of  sanguinarina  was 
produced,  and  a  comparatively  large  quantity  for  the  amount  of  pre- 
cipitates employed  from  both  the  tincture  and  fluid  extract.  Hence 
the  precipitates  in  liquid  preparations  of  Sanguinaria  contain  notable 
quantities  of  the  alkaloid  sanguinarina.  Xone  of  the  solvents  used  or 
tried  would  prevent  this  gradual  precipitation ;  alcohol,  however,, 
proves  to  be  far  the  best  solvent,  and  not  only  holds  the  sanguinarina 
and  resin  in  solution,  but  it  extracts  the  resin  more  completely  from 
the  drug. 
Properties  of  the  Resin. — In  doses  of  from  two  to  four  grains  it  is  a 
nauseant,  reducing  the  pulse  and  producing  uneasiness  in  the  stomach.. 
In  the  "  Proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association for 
1863,  page  214,  the  late  Prof.  P.  P.  Thomas  gives  an  exhaustive 
article  on  the  active  principles  of  Sanguinaria  and  their  therapeutical 
value.  In  speaking  of  the  resin  he  says  :  "  The  alkaloid  sanguinarina 
is  certainly  the  most  valuable  principle  existing  in  bloodroot,  but  I  am 
persuaded  it  is  not  the  sole  agent,  as  some  trials  made  with  the  impure 
resin  show  that  the  latter  also  possesses  nauseant  and  emetic  prop- 
erties." The  examination  made  on  the  resin  tends  to  corroborate  this, 
statement. 
Examination  of  Filtrate  (6). — To  four  liiiidoiinces  of  the  filtrate  solution  of 
acetate  of  lead  was  added,  which  gave  a  precipitate  of  a  reddish-purple 
color. 
Precipitate.  Filtrate. 
^Suspended  in  water,  and    Treated  with  subacetate  of  lead ;  dense  brown 
decomposed  by  H.2S,  fil-  precij^itate,  filtered. 
tered,  gave  a  dark  red  Precipitate.  Filtrate. 
solution ;  evaporated  to  Suspended  in  water,  de-    Light  red  color ;, 
extract  consistence,  was  composed  by  H^S  and       containing  the 
found  to  consist  of  a  filtered ;  brown-red  so-       alkaloids,  etc. 
gummy    red    coloring  lution ;  evaporated,  left 
matter,  uncrystallizable.  gummy  extract ;  proved 
Inert.  to  be  coloring  matter. 
Inert. 
There  seem  to  be  two  coloring  principles  besides  the  resin  and  san- 
guinarina ;  the  one  precipitated  by  normal  acetate  of  lead,  the  other  by 
basic  acetate  of  lead. 
The  whole  of  the  filtrate  h  was  then  rendered  alkaline  with  ammo- 
