n^i  Chamaelirin, 
The  sum  of  the  two  extractions  amounting  to  350  grains,  it  follows  that 
•9*1  per  cent,  of  chamaelirin  had  been  extracted,  so  that,  making  allow- 
ance for  the  root  not  having  been  probably  thoroughly  exhausted,  and 
for  unavoidable  loss,  it  is  safe  to  conclude  that  the  root  contains  fully 
10  per  cent,  of  the  bitter  principle.  The  mass  remaining  after  the 
extraction  by  absolute  alcohol,  was  then  exhausted  with  hot  alcohol  of 
70  per  cent.  To  this  solution,  after  cooling  and  filtering,  an  equal 
volume  of  ether  was  added,  which  caused  the  precipitation  of  a  molasses- 
like liquid  which,  treated  with  Fehling's  solution,  gave  the  appropriate 
reaction  for  glucose. 
Distilled  water  was  then  added  to  the  whole  of  the  bitter  substance, 
tut  as  it  agglutinated  after  the  manner  of  gum  arabic,  heat  was  applied, 
which  caused  it  to  dissolve  rapidly,  although  the  quantity  was  so  small 
as  to  give  the  clear  solution  a  svrupy  consistence.  On  diluting  the 
solution  with  water,  it  was  noticed  that  as  the  liquid  cooled  it  became 
slightly  turbid.  It  was  therefore  still  further  diluted,  and  set  aside  for 
twelve  hours,  when  it  was  found  to  have  deposited  a  small  quantity  of 
a  white  substance,  which,  separated  by  filtration,  dissolved  in  hot  water, 
alcohol  and  ether,  but  not  in  acids  or  alkaline  solutions.  A  small 
quantity  of  this  substance  dissolved  in  ether,  gave  upon  evaporation  the 
same  white,  opaque  film  that  was  observed  in  the  case  of  the  substance 
dissolved  out  of  the  magnesia  mass  by  ether  in  the  first  experiment. 
As  the  filtrate  from  this  white  substance  was  still  slightly  cloudy, 
animal  charcoal  was  added  to  it,  and  after  agitation,  it  was  filtered, 
yielding  a  perfectly  clear  solution.  The  use  of  the  charcoal  proved  in 
the  first  place  that  the  white  substance  is  retained  by  it,  and  secondly 
that  it  does  not  remove  any  of  the  color  from  the  chamaelirin.  Subse- 
quent experiment  showed  that  the  use  of  the  charcoal  was  not  essential, 
as  by  proper  dilution,  and  allowing  sufficient  time  for  subsidence,  the 
solution  can  be  filtered  off  perfectly  free  from  the  white  substance, 
provided  that  the  washings  are  not  added  to  it  as  the  insoluble  matter 
passes  through  the  pores  of  the  filter  when  pure  water  is  added. 
Another  and  still  better  plan  of  overcoming  the  difficulty,  occasioned  by 
the  presence  of  this  substance,  is  to  take  advantage  of  its  solubility  in 
ether,  and  by  using  this  menstruum  to  remove  it  from  the  magnesia 
mass  before  exhausting  with  absolute  alcohol. 
The  clear  solution  of  chamaelirin  was  then  evaporated  to  dryness 
on  a  water-bath,  yielding  an  opaque,  amorphous  mass  of  a  light  buff 
{Am.  Jour.  Phann. 
May,  1878. 
