14 
ON ARISTOLOCHIA RETICULATA. 
cyanate of potassa slightly acidulated with acetic acid, a 
slight cloudy precipitate, showing the presence of albumen. 
Resort was had to the test of ferrocyanate of potassa ow- 
ing to the presence of phosphoric acid in a free state, which 
would prevent the usual test (the corrosive chloride of 
mercury) from discovering the albumen. 
4th. A cold infusion was made by displacing an ounce of 
the root, and this was then evaporated to dryness. The 
gummy extract thus obtained possessed the bitter taste of 
the root, but in a less degree than obtained by distilling the 
alcohol and oil from the tincture. It was less in amount 
than that obtained from the tincture. 
5th. The tincture was made of the strength of one of 
root to eight of alcohol ; when water was added to the 
tincture it gave to it a milky appearance, indicating the 
presence of resin ; but this was not satisfactory, as the 
presence of oil would also produce the same effect : it 
therefore became necessary to prove to which of these, or 
whether to both, this was owing. This state of things 
made the succeeding experiment necessary. 
6th. A tincture was made by displacing one ounce of the 
root with alcohol • this was then distilled to remove the 
volatile oil and alcohol : this was continued until it was of 
such consistence as to render its removal from the retort 
necessary, when there was left behind a reddish or yellow- 
ish-brown resin of tough and sticky consistence, possessed 
of a bitter and pungent taste, — the latter owing to a portion 
of the volatile oil which remained. 
7th. A portion of the root was placed in a copper still, 
and covered with a solution of chloride of sodium ; this 
was then boiled, and the water which was distilled over 
not being so milky as was desirable, it was submitted to 
the operation again with but little better success; the water 
had the smell and warm taste of the root, — the smell being 
much stronger than the taste. 
