62 
PROXIMATE CONSTITUENTS OF MALE FERN-HOOT. 
described. The residue was digested with water containing ether, 
the ether separated by distillation and the water by filtration. 
The filtered liquid was turbid, had an astringent taste, and left 
on evaporation 6-5 grs. residue, which dissolved readily in water 
excepting a few brown flakes. The concentrated solution had a 
feeble acid reaction. Solution of isinglass and albumen pro- 
duced copious precipitates, perchloride of iron and peracetate of 
iron gave grayish brown precipitates, and lime-water a reddish 
brown precipitate, which did not dissolve in an excess. Nitrate 
of silver caused a bulky flocculent precipitate, and perchloride 
of mercury a light green precipitate. Consequently what the 
water had removed from the etherial extract was a tannic acid, 
belonging to those which strike a green color with iron. 
The etherial extract was now treated with alcohol of 0-840, 
first in the cold and then boiling. It acquired a reddish brown 
color, and left on evaporation 56-5 grs. of a reddish brown 
resin, transparent at the sides, and which on long exposure to the 
air became darker, harder and brittle. On being heated, it soon 
softened and became liquid ; it had a somewhat aromatic odor 
and bitter taste ; it dissolved readily in ether and spirits, and 
was heavier than water. On mixing the spirituous solution with 
water, it became turbid, had an acid reaction, and some time 
elapsed before the resin separated. The resin dissolved readily 
in oil of turpentine and likewise in ammonia. Nothing separated 
from the solution on the application of heat. It likewise dis- 
solved in sulphuret of carbon ; when heated with carbonate of 
potash, it dissolved in it, expelling the carbonic acid ; it dissolved 
readily in caustic potash ; the resin soap was very soluble in 
water, and was not separated by chloride of sodium even on 
ebullition. This resin consequently belongs to the strongly elec- 
tro-negative hard resins of Unverdorben. In order to separate 
completely the resin from the fat oil, the residual ether extract 
was treated with alcohol of 0-780, and what was left on evapo- 
ration digested with alcohol of 0-840. The complete separation 
of the resin from the oil is difficult, and can only be accomplished 
by solution in ether and alcohol of various strength. In this 
manner 10 grs. more of resin were separated. The fatty oil 
which now remained, after treating with water and spirits, was 
thick, dark green, and easily soluble in ether. The ether solu- 
