2l6 
Myrica  Asplenifolia. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
May,  1894. 
and  nitric  acid,  a  loss  of  34-86  per  cent ,  representing  hydrocellulose 
(starch)  and  incrusting  substances,  occurred. 
Deducting  the  weights  of  inorganic  constituents  still  present,  cel- 
lulose to  the  amount  of  17-68  per  cent,  was  left. 
Volatile  Oil. — To  ascertain  the  presence  of  this,  separate  distilla- 
tions were  made  of  the  fruit,  leaves,  stem  and  rhizome.  In  all  cases 
the  part  was  macerated  with  water  over  night,  previous  to  distilla- 
tion with  it. 
Thirty  grams  of  the  fruit  collected  in  June  gave  a  distillate  of  a 
very  disagreeable  odor.  Petroleum  ether  agitated  with  this  distil- 
late removed  a  small  amount  of  crystalline  substance. 
•5  kilogram  of  leaves  similarly  treated  yielded  a  very  aromatic 
distillate  from  which  ether  removed  a  small  amount  of  volatile  oil 
having  a  camphoraceous  odor  and  a  burning  taste. 
The  oil  obtained  in  this  experiment  resinified  in  a  few  days. 
Another  quantity  of  oil  was  obtained  from  the  leaves  in  the  same 
manner  as  was  employed  in  the  first  case.  This  second  sample  was 
dried  by  means  of  calcium  oxide  and  afterwards  dissolved  in  abso- 
lute ether,  the  solution  filtered  and  spontaneously  evaporated.  A 
clear  yellowish  oil  was  thus  obtained  and  after  standing  for  two 
weeks  showed  no  tendency  to  become  resinous. 
The  oil  was  specifically  lighter  than  water.  When  distilled  with 
water,  the  stem  furnished  traces  of  oil  only,  while  from  the  rhizome 
still  less  was  obtained. 
Resins. — -5  kilogram  of  the  leaves  were  percolated  with  acetone, 
the  solvent  recovered  and  the  residue  poured  into  water,  which  pro- 
duced a  turbid  yellow  mixture,  and  separated  a  soft,  black,  resinous 
precipitate,  having  a  warm  and  acrid  taste.  The  precipitate  was 
dissolved  in  alcohol,  and  the  solution  so  obtained  poured  into  water 
which  again  threw  out  the  resin  and  coloring  matter.  These  sub- 
stances were  dissolved  in  alcohol,  and  when  the  latter  was  allowed 
to  evaporate,  were  obtained  in  their  original  form.  The  residue  was 
dissolved  in  chloroform  and  the  solution  agitated  with  weak  solution 
of  potassium  hydrate.  Upon  separating  the  alkaline  layer  and 
slightly  acidifying  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  a  brown  resin  was  pre^ 
cipitated.    This  after  drying  was  brittle. 
Repeated  and  prolonged  digestion  of  an  alcoholic  solution  of  this 
resin  with  animal  charcoal  did  not  serve  to  change  the  color,  so  the 
substance  was  re  obtained  by  evaporating  the  solvent. 
