176 PIPER ANGUSTIFOLIUM, OR MATICO. 
it from the druggists, of whom I have made particular in- 
quiries. 
" I have no doubt that a remedy possessing such import- 
ant properties as the Matico in the case of haemorrhages and 
ulcers might be administered internally with benefit in cu- 
taneous diseases." 
Lima. April 30th, 1845. 
1st. A decoction of the leaves previously broken up was 
made, and to this Tinct. Iodine was added without producing 
any further change than that of adding its own colour to 
the decoction, thus showing the absence of starch. 
2d. An infusion was made by displacing with water an 
ounce of the leaves, previously treated with aether to re- 
move the matters soluble in that menstruum ; to a portion 
of the infusion thus obtained liquor plumbi subacetatis 
was added, till a precipitate was no longer occasioned by it ; 
the result was a copious flocculent precipitate, giving evi- 
dence of a considerable quantity of gummy matter. 
3d. A quantity of the leaves previously broken up was 
placed in a copper still and covered with water ; this was 
then boiled strongly, and the water, which at firstcame over 
clear, speedily assumed a milky appearance, and upon its 
surface streaks of a greasy aspect were seen — the water 
was returned to the still, and the oil, which came over, 
having subsided to the bottom of the recipient, was collect- 
ed, the quantity obtained from 7 lbs. troy, was about 11 
drachms ; the most remarkable peculiarity of the oil is its 
great density. Its specific gravity being 1.12, its colour is a 
full yellow, and in quantity it has a slightly reddish tint, quite 
fluid, and of course possessed of the odour and warm taste 
of the leaves in a high degree; when placed on the tongue 
it causes a hot pungent taste, very persistent, as might be 
expected from one of this tribe of plants; it is freely soluble 
in alcohol and sulphuric aether ; its odour is completely sui 
generis. When most of the experiments detailed in this 
paper had been finished, my attention was directed to some 
