210 
ON EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM. 
Expt. 4. — An infusion in the proportion of an ounce (troy) to 
the pint when exposed to the air, readily underwent the vinous 
fermentation, which would seem to indicate the presence of sugar. 
"With this infusion, sesquichloricle of iron gave a dense greenish- 
black precipitate, while a solution of gelatin gave but a scanty 
precipitate, showing the presence of but a small proportion of 
tannin. 
Subacetate of lead gave a dense lemon-yellow precipitate, 
throwing down the coloring matter completely. 
Expt. 5.— A decoction of the same strength as the infusion 
above-mentioned, gave with iodine no evidence of the presence of 
starch. 
Strips of isinglass were macerated in the decoction until all the 
tannin was removed, and persulphate of iron added with a view 
of detecting gallic acid: a dark green precipitate resulted, less 
black than in the former instance, and upon allowing it to settle, 
the supernatant liquid was of a grass-green color. This proves 
the absence of gallic acid, as the precipitate and change of color 
were doubtless produced by the reaction of the iron with the color- 
ing matter of the plant. 
Expt. 6. One pound avoirdupois of the dry herb was distilled 
with four pints of water, until two and a half pints of clear dis- 
tilled liquid were obtained ; this was re-distilled from half a pound 
more of the herb, when the liquid still came over perfectly trans- 
parent, possessing a slight odor of the plant and a slightly bitter- 
ish taste. It was saturated with chloride of sodium and allowed 
to stand, but no milkiness was observed. It therefore contains no 
volatile oil in the dried condition, unless in exceedingly minute 
proportion. 
From the foregoing experiments, the Eupatorium Perforatum 
appears to contain a peculiar bitter substance analogous to resin, 
but slightly soluble in water, chlorophylle, resin, a crystalline 
matter, the nature of which was not determined, gum, tannin, 
yellow coloring matter, extractive matter, lignin, chloride of po- 
tassium, nitrate of potassa, and probably a small portion of sugar 
and wax. 
