548  Constituents  of  Podophyllum  Peltatum.  {AVov^87h7arm' 
acid)  is  identical  with  that  produced  by  the  powder,  but  much  more 
powerful.  Chrysarobin  and  chrysophanic  acid,  when  administered  in 
connection  with  alkalies,  have  their  activity  much  increased. 
Six  or  8  grains  of  chrysophanic  acid,  followed  by  a  draught  contain- 
ing 151^  of  liq.  potassa,  has  all  the  effect  of  15  grains  of  the  powder. 
The  action  is  usually  not  until  the  lapse  of  two  hours  !  This  dose, 
taken  at  night,  does  not  operate  until  morning.  In  such  case  sickness 
is  always  the  first  effect,  but  the  purging  ensues  almost  immediately 
afterwards. 
ON  THE   CONSTITUENTS   OF   PODOPHYLLUM  PEL- 
TATUM, Lin. 
By  William  Charles  A.  Busch,  Ph.G. 
Abstract  from  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
The  resin  was  prepared  by  mixing  the  concentrated  tincture 
1.  With  water.  A  turbid  liquid  was  obtained,  which  after  a  time 
produced  a  light-grey  precipitate,  completely  soluble  in  ether  and  alka- 
lies. On  being  again  set  aside  the  turbid  liquid  settled  very  slowly, 
but  on  the  addition  of  a  little  muriatic  acid  it  became  clear,  and  the 
dark-grey  precipitate  was  found  to  be  nearly  insoluble  in  ether,  but 
readily  soluble  in  alkalies. 
2.  With  acidulated  water.  A  greyish  precipitate  was  readily  obtained 
which  retained  its  color  if  dried  at  the  ordinary  temperature  ;  a  higher 
temperature  deepened  the  color  very  perceptibly,  and  caused  the  resin 
to  fuse  to  a  blackish-brown  mass,  which  on  being  dissolved  in  alcohol 
and  precipitated  by  cold  acidulated  water  was  again  obtained  as  a 
greyish  powder.  It  was  completely  soluble  in  alcohol  and  alkalies,  and 
partly  in  ether.  On  incineration  a  little  ash  was  left.  With  hot  water 
a  solution  was  obtained  which  precipitated  on  cooling  ;  cold  water 
dissolved  a  little  of  the  resin,  the  yellowish  color  of  the  solution  being 
discharged  by  an  acid  and  reproduced  with  a  darker  shade  by  alkalies. 
3.  With  alum  solution. — A  bright-yellow  pulverulent  precipitate  was 
obtained,  which  darkened  somewhat  by  hot  water,  but  did  not  fuse  to 
a  brown  mass.  On  incineration  an  ash  was  left,  consisting  mainly  of 
alumina  ;  boiling  with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid  removed  most  of  it  from 
the  resin,  which  afterwards  left  but  very  little  ash. 
Resin  Soluble  in  Ether. — The  officinal  resin,  obtained  by  precipita- 
tion with  water  acidulated  with  muriatic  acid,  yielded  to  ether  60  per 
