200  Proximate  Analysis  of  Orris  Root.  {Ami$';SffMm' 
is  reduced  to  a  granular  form  or  a  fine  powder.  It  was  on  account 
of  the  extensive  use  of  orris  root,  and  because  no  statement  of  the 
effect  of  solvents  on  the  article  is  given,  that  the  writer  undertook 
this  proximate  analysis.  It  is  well  known,  however,  that  some  of  the 
proximate  principles  have  been  pretty  thoroughly  investigated  by 
Dumas,  Landerer,  Fliickiger  and  Hager ;  especially  is  this  true  of 
the  volatile  oil  and  its  stearopten. 
A  sample  of  the  granular  form  of  the  prepared  rhizome  was 
ground  to  a  very  fine  powder.  Petroleum  ether  extracted  wax  and 
fat  to  the  extent  of  1-34  per  cent.  Ethyl  ether  afterward  dissolved 
1-83  percent,  of  substances  which  were  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ben- 
zole, but  not  soluble  in  acidulated  water.  This  extract  had  a  strong 
odor  of  orris  root.  The  substances  to  which  this  odor  was  due 
were  not  soluble  in  water.  The  alcoholic  solution  of  the  extract 
gave  precipitates  with  alcoholic  solutions  of  ferric  chloride  and  lead 
acetate. 
Absolute  alcohol  removed  4-13  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the 
rhizome.  About  three-fourths  of  the  extract  were  soluble  in  water- 
This  solution  contained  small  amounts  of  glucose  and  sucrose.  It 
gave  a  precipitate  with  lead  acetate  solution. 
The  distilled  water  extract  amounted  to  14-02  per  cent.  This  in- 
cluded 8  31  per  cent,  of  glucose,  1-27  per  cent,  of  sucrose  and  a 
small  amount  of  substances  precipitable  by  alcohol.  The  total  or- 
ganic solids  dissolved  by  water  made  alkaline  with  sodium  hydrate 
were  found  to  be  30-30  per  cent.  This  extract  consisted  almost  en- 
tirely of  mucilaginous  and  albuminous  substances  which  were  pre- 
cipitated by  acidifying  with  acetic  acid  and  adding  a  large  volume 
of  alcohol.  Water  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid  extracted 
10-30  per  cent,  of  organic  matter.  Starch  was  present  to  the  extent 
of  16-85  per  cent.  A  cold  infusion  of  the  rhizome  gave  no  precip- 
itate with  gelatin  for  tannin.  The  sample  of  orris  root  examined 
contained  8-74  per  cent,  of  moisture  and  2-12  per  cent  of  ash.  The 
ash  contained  calcium,  magnesium  and  potassium  as  carbonates* 
chlorides  and  phosphates. 
In  addition  to  the  foregoing  percentages  representing  the  extracts, 
starch,  moisture  and  ash,  10-37  Per  cent,  of  cellulose  and  undeter- 
mined substances  were  present. 
