ON HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS. 
17 
boiled in water afforded a liquid which, after cooling, yielded a 
blue color with iodine. 
IV. A decoction of the root was boiled with carbonate and 
muriate of ammonia to remove any lime that might be present, 
and filtered. This liquid was rendered milky by antimoniate of 
potassa in solution, and by standing a slight precipitate occurred 
indicative of soda. 
V. Sulphuric acid caused a precipitate in the decoction. 
VI. A portion of decoction freed from lime, as in IV, yielded 
slight precipitates with phosphate of soda, and solution of am- 
monia, occasioned by magnesia. 
VII. Chloride of barium produced a precipitate only partly 
soluble in nitric acid. 
VIII. An alcoholic solution of bichloride of platinum indi- 
cated the presence of potassa. 
The decoction, owing to the large proportion of starch which 
it contains is always very thick ; made in the proportion of an 
ounce to half a pint, it resembles syrup in consistence. The 
extracts are all deliquescent, absorbing after a time almost suffi- 
cient moisture to render them semi-fluid. Several experiments 
were made with the view of ascertaining the presence of an 
alkaloid. 
1. By making an acidulated aqueous infusion, neutralizing with 
ammonia, precipitating by tannic acid, the precipitate washed 
and mixed with hydrate of lime, dried and powdered. This pow- 
der was treated with boiling absolute alcohol, and the alcoholic 
liquid evaporated. A yellow, apparently amorphous matter re- 
sulted, but in too small amount to admit an investigation of its 
properties. 
2. 10,000 grains of the root in coarse powder, was macerated 
in water for twenty-four hours, it was then boiled twice succes- 
sively for twenty minutes in twelve pints of water, the decoctions 
strained, mixed and evaporated in a water-bath to a syrupy con- 
sistence. The dregs from the decoction were next treated with 
one gallon of alcohol, 95 p. c, and then with one quart of ether 
by displacement ; these tinctures were reduced to a syrupy con- 
sistence, mixed with the aqueous extract, and the evaporation 
continued till the alcohol and ether were dissipated. The ex- 
tract as thus prepared was divided into three portions. 
2* 
