150  On  the  Fruit  of  Magnolia  Tripetala.  {A "aJSI'uSST! 
^fora  (Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.  xiv.  89,)  describes  a  crystalline  body  dis- 
covered in  that  bark,  which  he  found  analogous  to  liriodendrin  in  its 
fusing  point,  volatility  and  solubility,  but  less  bitter. 
W.  D.  Harrison,  by  an  analysis  of  the  bark,  leaves  and  fruit  of  the 
Magnolia  glauca  (Amer  Jour.  Pharm.  xxxiv.  29),  found  the  crystal- 
line substance  of  Dr.  Procter  in  the  bark,  but  was  unable  to  detect  it 
in  the  fruit — a  want  of  success  probably  due  to  the  use  of  solution  of 
potassa  as  a  menstruum. 
By  comparing  the  statements  of  Prof.  Emmet  with  those  now  ob- 
tained, it  must  be  evident  that  the  crystals  from  Magnolia  tripetala 
are  not  liriodendrin,  though  an  analogous  body. 
The  reactions  of  these  substances  with  muriatic  acid,  caustic  potassa 
and  iodine  are  quite  different,  and  the  bitterness  of  the  Magnolia 
crystals  is  much  less  marked  than  the  other. 
At  this  stage  an  opportunity  to  examine  the  fresh  bark  of  Lirioden- 
dron  root  was  afforded.  A  portion  was  exhausted  with  alcohol  of  95 
per  cent.,  and  evaporated  to  a  soft  extract.  This,  when  treated  with 
a  solution  of  potassa  (1  part  to  256),  gave  the  putty-like  mass  de- 
scribed by  Professor  Emmet,  extremely  bitter  and  totally  different  in 
taste  from  the  crystals  obtained  of  Magnolia.  When  dissolved  in  al- 
cohol, and  water  added  till  milky,  crystals  were  not  obtained  in  the 
short  period  allotted  for  the  experiment.  When  treated  with  benzine 
like  the  Magnolia  extract,  crystals  were  not  formed,  the  liriodendrin 
separating  in  transparent  globules,  of  a  yellowish  color,  and  persist- 
ently acrid  and  bitter  taste. 
Under  these  circumstances  the  principle  now  described,  which  is 
presumed  to  be  identical  with  that  found  by  Dr.  Procter  and  Mr.  Har- 
rison in  two  distinct  species,  is  entitled  to  be  called  Magnolin. 
Experiment  5. — When  the  soft,  resinous  matter  from  the  capsules, 
which  has  been  exhausted  with  benzine,  is  dissolved  in  alcohol  and 
treated  with  subacetate  of  lead  in  excess,  it  partly  precipitates,  in 
combination  with  oxide  of  lead,  the  other  part  remaining  in  solution. 
By  washing  the  precipitate  first  with  alcohol  and  then  with  diluted 
acetic  acid,  the  resin  is  separated,  and  after  washing  with  water  and 
dried,  is  perfectly  tasteless  and  of  a  dark  brown  color,  no  odor  and 
burns  with  a  sooty  flame,  leaving  a  bulky  charcoal  residue.  It  is 
brittle  and  hard.  The  alcoholic  liquid  from  which  the  resin  was  pre- 
cipitated was  mixed  with  a  slight  excess  of  sulphuric  acid  to  remove 
