.lonr.  Pliarni,  \ 
July,  1881.  J 
Phytolacca  Decandra. 
325 
Pol3^galic  acid  so  obtained  is  somewliat  coiitamiiiated  with  glucose, 
from  which  it  is  very  difficult  to  separate  on  account  of  their  similar 
^solubilities.  Polygalic  acid  is  insoluble  in  ether,  chloroform,  slightly 
.soluble  in  alcohol,  soluble  in  dilute  alcohol  and  water,  also  in  boiling 
:alcohol,  but  se])arates  to  some  extent  upon  cooling.  Besides  the  acid, 
both  drugs  were  found  to  contain,  in  varied  quantities,  tannin,  glucose, 
pectin  compounds  and  resin. 
The  pharmaceutical  preparations  made  from  the  two  roots  w^ere  as 
follows : 
Preparation. 
Decoction,  TJ.  B.  P. 
From  fiilse  seiiea;a. 
From  true  seneaa. 
Infusion,  Br.  P. 
T'luid  extract,  U.  8. 
Light  straw  color ;  weak  Deep  straw  color ;  strong 
senega  odor  ;  nearly  odor  and  taste  of  sen- 
insipid,  ega. 
Like  preceding.  Similar  to  preceding. 
Transj^arent,  dark  sher-  Dark  brown  ;  odor  naii- 
;Syrup,  U.  S.  P. 
Comj).  Syrup,  V.  S.  P. 
Tincture,  Br.  P. 
seous;  taste  sweetish, 
then  strongly  acrid ; 
excites  coughing. 
Deep  l)rown  or  wine  col- 
or; senega  odor  and 
taste  prominent. 
Reddish-brown  ;  odor 
and  taste  of  senega 
well  marked. 
D  a  r  k  golden -yellow  ; 
strong  senega  odor, 
and  characteristic 
taste. 
The  preparations  of  the  true  senega  required  the  following  amounts 
of  diluents  to  obtain  a  color  corresponding  with  that  of  the  same  pre- 
paration of  the  false  root:  decoction,  3(3  i)er  cent,  water;  infusion,  40 
per  cent,  ^vater ;  fluid  extract,  40  per  cent,  alcohol;  syrup  and  com- 
pound syrup,  34  per  cent,  syrup ;  tincture,  30  per  cent,  alcohol  and 
water. 
ry  color;  senega  odor 
somewhat  modilied. 
Yellowish-brown  ;  slight 
odor  and  taste  of  sen- 
ega. 
Light  yellowish-brown  ; 
slight  odor  and  taste  of 
senega. 
L  i  g  h  t  golden-yellow  ; 
odor  and  taste  of  sen- 
ega prominent. 
Phytolacca  Decandra. — A.  Terrell  has  found  in  the  alcoholic 
extract  of  the  berries  the  potassitim  salt  of  a  new  acid,  jjhytolaccic 
acid;  the  aqueous  solution  of  this  salt  is  not  changed  by  hydrochloric 
acid  in  the  cold,  but  when  heated  a  stiff  jelly  is  produced  which  is 
soluble  in  strong  alcohol.  The  isolated  acid  is  amorphous,  yellowish- 
brown,  transparent,  non-deliquescent,  very  soluble  in  alcohol  and 
water,  does  not  precipitate  salts  of  the  earths,  but  on  l)()iling  reduces 
silver  salts.  Its  aqueous  solution  is  converted  into  a  jelly  by  strong 
acids;  its  alkaline  salts  are  not  crystal lizable. —  Compt.  rend.,  xci,  pp. 
<856-85H. 
