I 
Am  Jour  Pharni. »  Q'^g^,  Preservative.  279 
June,  1881.  ) 
nia,  and  the  precipitated  sanguinariiia  separated  by  filtration.  The 
red -brown  filtrate  was  evaporated  to  an  extract  and  washed  with 
stronger  alcohol  until  this  would  take  up  no  more  (large  doses  of  the 
residue  left  after  this  washing  were  taken,  but  proved  to  be  inert). 
The  alcoholic  solution  was  of  a  dark  red  color,  and  contained  much 
glucose,  as  proven  by  Trommer's  test,  the  behavior  to  alcohol  and  ether 
and  by  its  sweet  taste.  The  alcohol  was  evaporated,  leaving  a  sweet- 
ish brown-red  extract,  which  was  dissolved  in  water  rendered  alkaline 
with  potassa,  and  agitated  with  ether ;  the  ethereal  solution  was 
allowed  to  evaporate,  when  it  deposited  prismatic  needle-shaped  crys- 
tals, colorless,  of  a  very  slightly  bitter  taste,  possessing  an  alkaline 
reaction,  and  forming  Avith  acids  colorless  solutions  and  producing  pre- 
cipitates with  solutions  of  mercurio-potassic  iodide  and  iodine  in  iodide 
of  potassium.  This  colorless  alkaloid  exists  in  a  very  minute  quantity 
in  the  rhizome.  With  sulphuric  acid  it  gives  a  beautiful  dark  pur- 
ple color,  which  is  not  permanent,  and  changes  to  a  yellowish  color 
after  the  addition  of  potassic  bichromate.  The  alkaloid  was  first  iso- 
lated by  Riegel,  in  1845,  and  its  reaction  with  sulphuric  acid  was 
noticed  by  F.  W.  Carpenter  (see    Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,"  1879,  p.  172). 
The  aqueous  solution  left  after  washing  with  ether  was  found  to  be 
inert  in  large  doses.  Therefore  the  medicinal  principles  are  the  san- 
guinarina,  resin  and  perhaps  to  some  extent  the  second  alkaloid.  The 
resin  has  an  eifect  similar  to  that  produced  by  the  alkaloid,  only  not 
in  so  marked  a  degree. 
Cider  Preservative. — About  a  year  ago  I  analyzed  a  sample  of 
a  cider  preservative  that  was  being  sold  here  at  the  rate  of  |2.00  per 
ounce;  it  was  simply  salicylic  acid.  It  has  been  extensively  used 
here,  and  samples  of  cider  that  have  been  kept  for  from  six  months  to 
a  year  still  have  the  peculiar  flavor  of  sweet  cider,  and  are  sweet  cider. 
One  ounce  is  sufficient  for  a  barrel  of  32  gallons.  Put  the  acid  in 
the  sweet  cider  and  mix  well,  then  bung  up;  it  will  not' ferment. 
For  the  preservation  of  sweet  cider  salicylic  acid  is  far  superior  to 
bisulphite  of  lime.  F.  L.  Slocum. 
