ON  THE  ERGOT  OF  INDIAN  CORN. 
307 
of  flakes,  which  left  a  greasy  stain  when  pressed  between  folds 
of  paper. 
The  liquid  obtained  by  displacement  which  was  of  a  dark 
brownish  color,  and  neutral  to  test  paper,  was  concentrated  by 
distillation  with  a  gentle  heat  to  10  fluid  draclfms.  A  portion 
of  the  distillate  coming  over  last  being  free  from  ether,  but 
having  a  strong  odor  of  the  ergot,  was  agitated  with  water,  but 
no  cloudiness  was  produced,  thus  showing  the  absence  of  any 
considerable  amount  of  volatile  oil.  The  liquid  in  the  retort 
divided  itself  into  two  layers,  a  thick  blackish  oily  substance 
settling  to  the  bottom,  the  whole  was  agitated  with  a  mixture  of 
ether  and  water  to  cause  complete  separation  ;  and  on  standing, 
the  ether  with  the  oily  and  resinous  matter  in  solution  floated 
on  the  surface,  leaving  the  inferior  layer  almost  colorless ;  the 
ethereal  solution,  decanted  and  allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneous- 
ly, yielded  a  mixture  of  oil  and  resin,  which,  by  agitation  with 
alcohol,  was  partially  dissolved,  a  light,  yellow  colored  resin, 
insoluble  in  that  menstruum  remaining.  The  alcoholic  solution 
by  evaporation  yielded  a  thick,  viscid  oil,  which,  by  standing, 
gave  a  deposit. 
The  mass,  after  drying,  was  returned  to  the  percolator  and 
displaced  with  water  mixed  with  one-twelfth  its  bulk  of  alcohol, 
which  was  added  to  prevent  fermentation  ;  a  deep  reddish  brown 
colored  liquid  was  obtained,  which  was  acid  to  litmus  paper  and 
produced  effervescence  when  poured  on  crystals  of  bicarbonate 
of  potash ;  this  was  concentrated  by  means  of  a  sand  bath  to 
about  5  fluid  ounces;  2  fluid  drachms  of  this  were  put  into  a 
2  oz.  vial  with  5  drops  of  liquor  potassae,  and  a  piece  of  litmus 
paper,  previously  reddened  by  vapor  of  chlorohydric  acid  inserted 
and  kept  suspended  above  the  surface  of  the  liquid  by  the  cork, 
had  the  blue  color  rapidly  restored,  thus  showing  the  presence 
of  a  volatile  alkaline  substance  and  its  ready  elimination. 
Another  portion  agitated  with  a  few  drops  of  liquor  potassse, 
gave  a  strong  odor  similar  to  that  of  fluid-extract  of  secale  cornu- 
tum,  after  the  addition  of  liquor  potassse,  and  dense  cloudiness 
was  produced  upon  the  presentation  of  a  glass  rod  wet  with 
chlorohydric  acid. 
/  Four  fluid  ounces  of  this  concentrated  solution  was  now  put 
into  a  retort,  and  a  receiver  attached  with  a  small  wide-necked 
