70 EXAMINATION OP THE STROBILES OF THE HOP. 
peculiar vegetable alkali to which he gave the name of altheine; 
but Plisson having examined it, recognised it as a prin- 
ciple similar to that derived from asparagus. More recently 
M. Blondeau, a pharmaceutist of Paris, has detected the pre- 
sence of the same principle in the root of the large comfrey. 
Vauquelin has moreover detected it in the potato, and M. Ro- 
biquet in the root of the liquorice, where it bears the name of 
agedoite. Finally, its presence has been determined in the 
species of ornithogalum. 
D. Examination of the matter of oily appearance. 
The small quantity of this matter obtained from a certain 
quantity of juice during evaporation, was united to that ex- 
tracted by alcohol from the precipitate ; it presented itself un- 
der the form of a liquid of oily consistence, of a yellowish 
brown color, having a sweet taste at first, afterwards slightly 
bitter; active' in producing acridity in the throat; in every 
respect similar to that remaining after eating the young shoots, 
but more decided; its odor recalls that of rancid soap; — it was 
treated with hydrated ether, in which it dissolved completely. 
The solution allowed to evaporate spontaneously left as a resi- 
duum — 1, a solid substance, of a white appearance, under the 
form of small grains or lumps ; 2, a brownish oily liquid which 
covered the solid matter. These two substances being equally 
soluble in alcohol and ether, it is difficult to isolate them com- 
pletely, yet the solid part being specifically the heaviest, I 
had recourse to this property. I poured water upon the resi- 
due of the ethereal evaporation and agitated strongly; after a 
few moments of repose, the solid portion was held in suspen- 
sion in the water, the largest fragments occupied the bottom; 
the liquid portion, which was supernatant, was dissolved by 
ether, which I poured upon the top and removed with a sy- 
phon. 
E. Examination of the solid matter. 
This is white, taste sweet, analogous to that of white soap, 
slightly acrid, which 1 attribute to the presence of a certain 
quantity of liquid oily matter; its odor is feeble, it is soluble 
