SEEDS AND CAPSULES OF DIGITALIS PURPUREA.. 
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it with success with children, who can take it readily, as well 
as for adults, where an anti-bilious purgative is desirable, sel- 
dom producing pain or nausea, and not liable to produce consti- 
pation. — N. Y. Journal of Pharmacy, Jan. 1852. 
EXAMINATION OF THE SEEDS AND CAPSULES OF DIGITALIS 
PUKPUREA. 
By Dr. A. Buchner, Sen. 
The author has examined the seed and capsules of Digitalis 
purpurea. The seed lost by drying at about 162° F., 9*26 per 
cent, of water. The capsules are very slightly hygroscopic, and 
lose scarcely 4 per cent, by drying. The author prepared extracts 
of the seed and of the capsules with ether and water, and examin- 
ed them. The following are the results arrived at : 
The seeds of Digitalis purpurea are preferable to the leaves, 
as they contain a larger amount of digitaline, together with a fat 
oil, are not so liable to be mistaken or collected at a wrong period, 
and are more easily dried and preserved without experiencing any 
alteration; in short, more dependence can be placed upon them. 
The digitaline in the oily compound, which is easily prepared 
with ether from the seeds, merits every attention in a therapeutical 
respect, for the seed, or the oily digitaline compound from it, can 
be easily dispensed, and at a very moderate expense, in various 
forms, as emulsion, powder, pills, &c. 
The seed-capsules and calyx of Digitalis likewise contains digi- 
taline, but in proportionately far smaller quantity ; so that the tan- 
nate of digitaline, which can be prepared from the aqueous ex- 
tracts, is respectively as 3*00 and 0*33 per cent, of the weight of 
the seed and capsules. 
This quantity, separated from the seed by exhaustion with boil- 
ing water, does not form the entire amount of digitaline : for, like 
resinous substances, it is not only soluble in alcohol, but also in 
oils, and it is partially combined with the fat oil of the seed. 
The oil containing the digitaline, which can be extracted by 
ether, amounts to about 40 per cent, of the weight of the seed ; it 
