9 
PIPER ANGUSTIFOLIUM, OR MATICO. 177 
observations on the Pharmaceutical and Chemical charac- 
ter of the Peruvian Matico, by John F. Hodges, M. D. He 
describes the oil to be of a light green colour, and, when 
freshly procured, of the consistence of good castor oil, be- 
coming crystalline upon standing, and reddened by sul- 
phuric acid. 
Desiring to know whether the oil was at all soluble in 
water, a drop was placed in an ounce of distilled water and 
allowed to remain some days. When first examined, the oil 
seemed to be unaffected; it was left a few days longer, and 
examination showed an oil floating on the surface, whilst 
the drop still retained its globular form at the bottom of the 
glass. From this it was rather to be supposed that the oil 
first obtained was composed of two oils, one heavier and 
one lighter than water ; to prove this the oil was distilled 
from a solution of potassa to remove the lighter oil, and it 
was successful, as the surface of the water in the recipient 
was covered with globules of a colourless oil ; to the residue 
in the retort, sulphuric acid was added, and then subjected 
to distillation, when, on the surface of the water which came 
over, globules of the lighter oil were seen floating, and on 
the bottom of the receiver the heavy oil was to be seen. 
4th. An sethereal tincture was made by displacing an 
ounce of the bruised leaves previously treated with alcohol, 
to remove the resin and volatile oil ; the tincture thus ob- 
tained was evaporated, and the extract treated with potassa, 
washed, and then sulphuric acid was added, without any 
change of colour ensuing ; whilst the tincture was evapo- 
rating, a film similar to that of fatty oil was perceptible; the 
extract had a very pungent taste. 
5th. The alcoholic tincture, whilst evaporating, had less 
of a greasy appearance, and was not possessed of so pun- 
gent a taste; this, when evaporated and treated with po- 
tassa and washed, was unaffected in colour by sulphuric acid. 
6th. A portion of the leaves, previously boiled in water, 
afterwards evaporated, was treated by acetic acid: the vine- 
17* 
