Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Oct.,  1878. 
Cham<eliretin. 
467 
characteristic  peach-red  color  mentioned  in  the  former  article.  The 
color  resulting  from  the  action  of  this  acid  can  be  best  observed  by 
adding  the  acid  to  a  small  quantity  of  the  substance  contained  in  a  test- 
tube.  The  precipitates  formed  by  adding  baryta  water  and  solution  of 
subacetate  of  lead  to  solutions  of  chamaelirin  are  soluble  both  in  water 
and  an  excess  of  the  precipitant. 
In  order  to  determine  the  characters  of  the  decomposition  products 
of  chamaelirin,  some  of  the  substance  was  digested,  at  a  moderate  heat, 
with  a  2  per  cent,  solution  of  hydrochloric  acid,  when  it  was  found 
that  the  solution  became  cloudy  after  awhile.  On  adding  water,  and 
allowing  the  liquid  to  cool,  the  precipitate  which  had  formed  quickly 
subsided.  A  portion  of  the  supernatant  liquid  was,  after  neutraliza- 
tion, tested  with  Fehling's  solution,  and  gave  decided  evidence  of  the 
presence  of  glucose.  The  precipitate  was  then  transferred  to  a  filter 
and  thoroughly  washed  with  distilled  water,  when,  after  drying  as  far 
as  possible  by  pressing  the  filter  between  folds  of  bibulous  paper,  it 
was  transferred  to  a  capsule  and  dissolved  in  absolute  alcohol.  On  the 
evaporation  of  the  alcohol,  on  a  water-bath,  the  residue,  for  which  I 
propose  the  term  chimaliretin,  was  found  to  be  a  dull  white,  somewhat 
resinous  substance,  without  taste  or  odor,  and  readily  reducible  to  a 
powder.  It  is  insoluble  in  water.  It  dissolves  more  readily  in  cold 
absolute  alcohol  than  chamaelirin,  and  remains  in  solution  on  adding 
about  an  equal  volume  of  water,  but  is  precipitated  if  the  alcohol  is 
further  diluted.  It  is  very  soluble  in  ether.  With  concentrated  sul- 
phuric acid  it  gives  a  brown  color,  which  changes  after  some  time  to 
an  undecided  purplish  hue  ;  no  characteristic  reactions  are  afforded  bv 
either  nitric  or  hydrochloric  acids. 
For  the  purpose  of  solving,  if  possible,  the  problem  in  regard  to  the 
real  character  of  the  insoluble  matter  contaminating  the  chamaelirin,  a 
few  ounces  of  chamaelirium  root  were  exhausted  with  ether,  and  the 
solution  evaporated  until  all  the  ether  was  expelled.  On  adding  water 
to  the  residue,  and  heating  on  the  water-bath,  the  liquid  became  cloudy, 
and  oil  globules  collected  on  the  top.  The  liquid  was  then  allowed  to 
cool,  when  the  floating  mass  assumed  a  semi-liquid  appearance.  After 
treating  this  oily  mass  with  several  portions  of  water,  it  was  found  to 
possess  a  disagreeable  odor,  and  to  give  an  acid  reaction  with  litmus 
paper.  Compounds  were  formed  by  it  with  baryta  water,  solution  of 
sub-acetate  of  lead,  lime  water,  ammonia  and  caustic  soda  solution. 
