116 
HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. 
and the liquid portion submitted to a stream of sulphuretted hydro- 
gen, to eliminate the lead. The supernatant liquor was evapo- 
rated to dryness, in order to get rid of the excess of sulphuretted 
hydrogen, and the acetic acid left by the decomposition of the salt of 
lead. The extract thus obtained treated with boiling alcohol, 
yielded by spontaneous evaporation an extractive matter inter- 
mixed with crystals resembling those obtained by magnesia, but 
which I did not succeed in isolating. [Acetate of Hydrastia? — Ed.] 
125 grains of the aqeous extract were again dissolved in four 
ounces of water, and one ounce of animal charcoal was digested 
with the solution for about six or eight hours. It was then filtered 
and the residuum washed and dried. This was then treated with 
boiling alcohol, which on spontaneous evaporation produced an 
extractive matter of intense bitterness, also intermixed with crys- 
tals identical with those of the preceding experiment. *i 
EXAMINATION OF THE CRYSTALLINE SUBSTANCE. 
The first crystals were of brilliant yellow color, insoluble in 
water, sparingly so in cold ether and alcohol, more so in ether 
when hot, entirely dissolved by chloroform and boiling alcohol. 
Litmus paper previously reddened by an acid immersed in these 
solutions was restored to its natural blue color. Nitric acid dis- 
solves the substance perfectly, decomposes it, and assumes a deep 
red color. Muriatic acid dissolves it without alteration; sulphuric 
acid affects it slightly when cold, but when hot decomposes it, and 
becomes changed in color to purple. Vapor of iodine changes the 
crystals to a deep brown color; heated in oil of turpentine they 
fuse, somewhat coloring the oil, and a slight opacity occurs when 
the solution cools. Water and alcohol acidulated with sulphuric, 
nitric,hydrochloric, acetic, and oxalic acids dissolved them perfectly, 
gradually diminishing the acid reaction, but not however complete- 
ly so. 
These solutions were intensely bitter, and on evaporation yielded 
amorphous white granules, the mother water which covered them 
changing to an oily viscous fluid, of a bitter acrid taste, which was 
ultimately converted into a brittle and transparent resinous mass 
of an amber color. All these solutions were precipitated by am- 
monia and tannic acid. Subjected to the blow pipe flame in a 
platinum capsule the crystals burned with a yellow flame, puffing 
