}    Proximate  Analysis  of  Orris  Root.  199 
TABULATED  RESULTS  OF  EXAMINATION. 
Sample. 
Color  of 
Sample. 
Color  of 
Solution. 
Dextrin. 
Starch 
Color,  when 
Heated,  with 
KOH. 
U.  S.  P.     .  .  . 
Almost  white. 
Very  light. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
Gran,  gum 
"White. 
Very  light. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
Powder  a     .  . 
White. 
Yellow. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
"       b  .  .  . 
White. 
Yellow. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
"  c 
Gray. 
Dark  brown. 
None. 
None. 
Yellowish-brown. 
"       d  .  .  . 
White. 
Very  light. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
"       e    .  . 
Yellowish. 
Yellow. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
"      /•  •  ■ 
White. 
Tight. 
None. 
None. 
g  ■  •  ■ 
White. 
Light. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
h  .  .  . 
White. 
Yellow. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
"        i  .  .  . 
White. 
Light. 
None. 
None. 
k  .  .  . 
White. 
Light. 
None. 
None. 
/  . 
White. 
Light. 
None. 
None. 
"      m  .  . 
White. 
Very  light. 
None. 
None. 
Amber. 
These  results  seem  to  indicate  that  the  cheaper  grades  of  gum 
are  most  frequently  employed  in  the  preparation  of  the  powdered 
article,  and  that  adulteration  with  dextrine  is  not  generally  prac- 
tised. 
Of  course,  the  samples  examined  were  only  such  as  are  used  in 
pharmacies;  and,  no  doubt,  for  technical  purposes,  one  might  be 
able  to  purchase  gum  wherein  dextrin  might  be  revealed. 
To  all  who  have  favored  me  with  samples  of  the  gum,  my  sincere 
thanks  are  due. 
Cincinnati,  O.,  March,  1897. 
PROXIMATE  ANALYSIS  OF  ORRIS  ROOT. 
By  S.  Allen  Tucker. 
Contribution  from  the   Chemical  Laboratory  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy.    No.  162. 
What  is  known  in  commerce  as  orris  root  is  the  rhizome  of  Iris 
florentina,  which  has  been  deprived  of  its  cortex  and  dried  by  expo- 
sure to  sunlight.  Orris  root  has  a  delicate  aroma,  and  for  this  rea- 
son it  finds  extensive  use  in  the  manufacture  of  perfumes,  floral  ex- 
tracts and  tooth-powders.  For  these  purposes  the  prepared  rhizome 
