228  Constituents  of  some  American  Plants.  {AmMayriSrarm* 
cylindrical  glass  percolator.  After  due  maceration  pour  on  menstruum 
until  3  pints  of  percolate  has  slowly  passed.  To  this  add  the  potas- 
sium carbonate  and  evaporate  it  until  a  pasty  residue  is  left.  Stir  thi& 
well  with  8  fluidounces  of  alcohol,  gradually  added ;  let  the  pasty 
precipitate  subside  and  decant  the  supernatant  liquor.  To  the  residue 
gradually  add  8  fluidounces  of  alcohol,  as  before,  pour  this  mixture 
upon  a  strainer  and  force  the  liquid  out.  Should  this  second  extraction 
measure  more  than  is  needed  to  complete  the  intended  volume  of  fluid 
extract,  dissipate  the  excess  of  alcohol  by  appropriate  means ;  unite 
the  residue  with  the  first  extraction,  set  the  mixture  aside  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  decant  the  clear  fluid  extract  from  the  scant  crystalline 
deposit  meanwhile  formed. 
CONSTITUENTS  OF  SOME  AMERICAN  PLANTS. 
Abstracts  from  Theses. 
Mitchella  repens,  Lin. — An  analysis  of  this  plant  was  made  by  Ed- 
gar Breneiser,  Ph.  G.,  with  the  following  results :  Volatile  oil  was- 
found  to  be  absent.  Petroleum-benzin  dissolved  1*180  per  cent., 
consisting  of  chlorophyll  and  wax,  the  latter  saponifiable  by  alcoholic 
potassa  solution.  Ether  took  up  1*400,  of  which  *240  was  soluble  in 
water,  and  "940  soluble  in  alcohol.  The  aqueous  solution  contained  a 
principle  precipitated  by  tannin  and  by  picric  acid,  but  neither  alka- 
loid nor  glucoside.  The  resin  taken  up  by  alcohol  was  soluble  in  po- 
tassa and  this  solution  yielded  nothing  to  benzin,  benzol  or  chloro- 
form ;  the  liquid  obtained  on  treating  the  resin  with  acidulated  water  ^ 
gave  precipitates  with  tannin  and  picric  acid,  but  yielded  nothing  to 
benzin,  benzol  or  chloroform.  The  alcoholic  extract  of  the  plant 
amounted  to  3*800  per  cent.,  of  which  3*440  was  soluble  in  water, 
and  this  contained  1*630  glucose,  estimated  by  Fehling's  solution. 
Water  now  dissolved  from  the  plant  20*699  per  cent.,  from  which  al- 
cohol precipitated  5.440  mucilaginous  matter  and  *536  inorganic  com- 
pounds ;  the  further  addition  of  alcohol  precipitated  3*679  dextrin 
and  allied  carbohyd rates  ;  6 '009  glucose  was  found;  also  a  saponin- 
like  principle  (precipitated  by  baryta,  and  frothing  in  aqueous  solu- 
tion.) Dilute  soda  solution  dissolved  2*360  albumin,  1*840  other  or- 
ganic matter  and  *120  inorganic  matter;  total,  4*320  percent.  Di- 
