Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
October,  1897.  / 
Aralia  Nudicaulis. 
541 
volatile  oil  than  the  spring  drug  has  not  been  determined;  our 
impression,  based  on  the  odor  and  taste  of  the  samples  of  various 
seasons,  is,  however,  that  the  oil  is  more  abundant  in  the  fall  than 
in  the  spring.  In  working  with  the  fresh  bark  alone  the  distillate 
became  more  milky  and  the  oil-drops  solidified  at  about  20°  C, 
showing  a  light  yellow  color.  Further  investigations  of  this  oily 
portion  led  us  to  believe  that  some  of  the  resins  present  in  the  plant 
were  carried  over  in  the  distillation,  though  precautions  were  taken 
against  it.  The  odor  of  the  oil  is  persistent  and  gives  the  drug  its 
characteristic  smell,  noticeable  even  in  the  air  of  places  where  the 
plant  grows  abundantly. 
After  having  determined  the  absence  of  alkaloids  and  glucosides, 
and  the  presence  of  tannin,  starch,  volatile  oil  and  resins  in  the 
rhizome  of  Aralia  nudicaulis,  examinations  were  made  for  some  of 
the  more  important  constituents  according  to  Parson's  scheme.  At 
a  temperature  of  980  to  100°  C,  the  drug  lost  6-50  per  cent,  of 
moisture,  and  the  dry  sample,  on  which  all  future  percentage  calcu- 
lations were  based,  contained,  on  incineration,  5-47  per  cent,  of  ash- 
This  ash  yielded  24-82  per  cent.,  equal  to  1-36  per  cent,  of  the 
original  dry  sample,  of  soluble  matter,  consisting  of  chlorides  and 
sulphates  of  sodium  and  potassium.  The  drug  yields  to  chloroform 
3-38  per  cent,  of  a  soft,  brown,  resinous  and  oily  matter.  This 
chloroformic  extract  was  dried  for  two  months  over  sulphuric  acid 
without  hardening.  At  a  temperature  of  no°  C,  it  suffered  a  loss 
equal  to  0-33  per  cent,  of  the  original  dry  drug,  which  amount 
represents  the  volatile  oil  present.  Subsequent  estimations  of  this 
oil  were  not  successful. 
After  the  treatment  with  chloroform,  the  residue  was  exhausted 
with  80  per  cent,  alcohol,  yielding  8-75  per  cent,  of  brown  resinous 
matter,  of  which  6-66  per  cent,  was  ash.  The  portion  of  this  alco- 
holic extract,  soluble  in  absolute  alcohol,  and  again  soluble  in  water, 
forming  neutral  solutions,  gives  tests  with  the  following  reagents 
for  tannin  :  Basic  acetate  of  lead — light  yellowish  precipitate  ;  gela- 
tine, starch,  potassium  and  antimony  tartrate — precipitates  ;  potas- 
sium permanganate,  silver  nitrate— -  reductions ;  ferric  chloride — 
green  color.  Further  examination  of  this  extract,  omitting  con- 
fusing details,  shows  the  presence  of  acid  resins  and  indications  of 
neutral  resins.    An  organic  acid  is  also  present. 
After  the  chloroform  and  alcohol  extractions,  a  water  extract  was 
