PROXIMATE CONSTITUENTS OF MALE FERN-ROOT. 63 
tion was poured into a narrow-necked flask, and the ether allow- 
ed to evaporate slowly in the Gold. After some time, a verru- 
coid, yellowish-white mass had separated on the sides of the ves- 
sel. The oil was decanted, again dissolved in ether, and expos- 
ed to a temperature of 18°, and this operation repeated as long 
as any thing separated. The adherent oil was removed from the 
solid mass by rinsing with a little eold ether. This substance, 
examined under a lens, appeared crystalline ; but no crystal- 
line form could be detected ; it was inodorous and tasteless, ad- 
hered between the teeth like wax, was soluble in much ether, 
partially soluble in boiling alcohol of 0-780, but separated for 
the greater part on cooling. The solution was neutral. Oil of 
turpentine readily dissolved it ; nitric acid has but little action 
upon it ; caustic potash dissolves it readily, and nothing sepa- 
rates on the addition of chloride of sodium. Concentrated sul- 
phuric acid mixes with it, colors it reddish, and diffuses an 
odor of butyric acid. On pouring water into this mixture, a 
reddish precipitate fell. This substance has most resemblance to 
wax, and differs from it principally by its solubility in oil of tur- 
pentine. It appears to form a peculiar steari?ie, like those which 
separate from the fatty oils, after long standing and in the cold. 
It is most easily separated from the fatty oil after removal of 
the tannic acid and the resin ; cold likewise facilitates the sepa- 
ration. After standing for one year, the above amount of oil 
had furnished 19.1 grs. of stearine ; no further separation was 
observed. 
The quantity of the fatty oil which now remained amounted to 
108 grs. It had a dark green color, but at first was bright 
green, probably owing to the presence of chlorophyl, which 
grew darker with time. It was of the consistence of oil of 
almonds, but did not congeal even at 9^ F. The statement of 
Liebig, in Geiger's ' Handbuch der Pharmacie,' that the oil con- 
gealed like butter at 32°, is probably owing to the oil not hav- 
ing been pure, and still containing stearine and resin ; its specific 
gravity at 59° is 0.942 ; it has a peculiar odor and a bitter 
taste. It is sparingly soluble in spirit of 0-820 ; alcohol of 
0-780 dissolves some of it in the cold, and nearly the whole on 
the application of heat, but the greater portion of what has dis- 
solved again separates on cooling. It has no acid reaction. 
