16 
ON HDYRANGEA AKBOBESCENS. 
2. 500 grains of the powdered root were macerated in 4 
ounces of ether for two days, introduced into a percolator, and 
ether added till 8 ounces of ethereal tincture were obtained. 
This was reduced to half an ounce by spontaneous evaporation, 
and afterwards to the consistence of an extract by a water bath 
below 100° F. Soon after the application of the water bath 
heat, the clear, pale, yellow liquid separated into a yellow floccu- 
lent substance and a colorless liquid, on which it floated. The 
extract as thus prepared, which amounted to 4 per cent, of the 
root, was of a light straw color, resinous, soft, but somewhat 
granular, as extract of quassia often occurs; the after impres- 
sion, however, is sweetish. The extract consists almost wholly 
of the yellow flocculent matter above noticed. It is soluble in 
alcohol, ether, and solution of potassa, which last deepens its 
color, the solution having a light orange hue. This extract is 
insoluble in chloroform and in water, contains no fixed oil, and 
two grains of it when swallowed produced no sensible effect. It 
is probably soft resin. 
3. 500 grains of the root, in powder, were treated with alco- 
hol (85 per cent.) by maceration and displacement, to obtain 
eight ounces of tincture, which was evaporated at a heat below 
120° F. to an extract. Near the end of the evaporation, small 
globules separated on the surface of the liquid, and remained 
unmixed in the extract. The alcoholic extract has a light brown 
color, an odor resembling that of the root, a bitter somewhat 
sweetish taste, and is but partly soluble in water. The root 
yielded 6 per cent. 
4. 1000 grains of the root from which the matters soluble in 
alcohol and ether had been extracted, were boiled in several 
successive portions of water, the decoctions mixed, filtered and 
evaporated, yielding 65 grains of aqueous extract which had a 
brown color, slightly bitter taste, no odor, and easily reduced to 
a powder, resembling jalap in color. 
5. A cold aqueous infusion was prepared and found to be neu- 
tral to test papers. 
I. Gum was precipitated by subacetate of lead and by alcohol. 
II. Albumen was indicated by corrosive sublimate and by co- 
agulation by heat. A solution of gelatin gave no evidence of 
tannin. 
III. Starch. The unexhausted dregs from the cold infusion 
