598 
PTiytolaccce  Bacem. 
/'Am.  Jour.  Pharm* . 
\     De©.,  1881. 
portion  of  the  solution  it  gave  a  reddish  precipitate.  These  tests  indi- 
eate  the  presence  of  an  alkaloid. 
The  extract  insoluble  in  water  was  treated  with  diluted  hydrochloric 
acid,  which  removed  such  a  small  quantity  that  it  could  not  be  exam- 
ined. The  mass  insoluble  in  diluted  hydrochloric  acid,  when  treated 
with  diluted  amnionic  hydrate,  was  entirely  dissolved ;  hydrochloric 
acid  added  to  this  solution  caused  a  precipitate,  showing  it  to  be  an 
acid  resin  ;  it  has  a  very  acrid  taste. 
The  portion  insoluble  in  absolute  alcohol  was  treated  with  water,  in 
'  which  it  was  entirely  soluble.  To  this  liquid  a  solution  of  subacetate 
of  lead  was  added ;  the  precipitate  was  collected  on  a  filter,  washed 
and  freed  from  lead.  This  solution  consisted  of  some  coloring  and 
extractive  matter.  The  filtrate  was  freed  from  lead  and  tested  for 
alkaloids,  glucosides  and  sugar,  but  none  could  be  detected  excepting 
sugar. 
Alcohol  added  to  a  decoction  of  the  root  gavfe  a  jelly-like  precip- 
itate, showing  the  presence  of  gum.  An  aqueous  solution  of  iodine 
and  iodide  of  potassium  gave  the  reaction  for  starch. 
On  incineration,  the  root  yielded  10*73  per  cent,  of  ash,  of  which 
66*35  was  soluble  in  water,  24*96  per  cent,  soluble  in  hydrochloric 
acid,  and  6' 71  per  cent,  consisting  of  silica,  soluble  in  hot  solution  of 
sodic  hydrate,  the  rest  being  sand.  The  ash  contained  potassium,,, 
calcium  and  iron,  combined  with  chlorine,  sidphuric  and  phosphoric 
acids. 
According  to  this  analysis  poke  root  contains  the  following  organic 
principles:  Gum,  starch,  sugar,  tannin,  fixed  oil,  coloring  matter,  acid 
resin,  and  possibly  an  alkaloid,  the  exact  nature  of  which  has  not 
been  ascertained.  * 
PHYTOLACC.E  BACC.E. 
B  Y   W  A  L  T  E  R   C  R  A  M  E  R,  P  H. 
Fram  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
Phytolacca  decandra  is  indigenous  to  North  America,  but  perfectly 
naturalized  in  Southern  Europe,  and  is  known  under  the  names  of 
poke,  garget,  scoke  and  coakum. 
The  berries  are  about  one-third  inch  in  diameter,  flattened  globular 
in  shape  and  consist  of  ten  concentrically  arranged  carpels^  each  o£" 
