REPORT ON SYRUP OP SARSAPARILLA. 
13 
to 150° Fahr. , to the consistence of an extract, which we 
shall call No. 1. 
The Sarsaparilla, when removed from the apparatus and 
* dried, was found to still possess some acrimony when chew- 
ed, and was treated with diluted alcohol until eight fluid 
ounces of tincture were obtained, the latter yielding by eva- 
poration a small quantity of dry resinous extract, No. 2. 
The remaining three ounces of ground Sarsaparilla were 
macerated in eight fluid ounces of diluted alcohol for four 
days, and subjected to displacement until one pint of tinc- 
ture was obtained. This was perfectly transparent; but 
when evaporated to six fluid ounces, a few grains of dark 
insoluble matter precipitated, which was separated by a 
Alter, and the clear fluid 'evaporated to an extract, No. 
3. The root which remained possessed no acrimony. 
These different products were then carefully examined, 
with a view to their embodying the sensible properties of 
the Sarsaparilla, and the Committee, with others not of their 
number, agreed in the correctness of the following state- 
ments: 
No. 1. This extract was translucent in thin layers, dark 
colored and very soluble in water. It possessed the odor, 
bitterness and acrimony of Sarsaparilla in a considerable de- 
gree ; and doubtless consisted of the extractive with more 
or less salseparine and volatile oil. This extract was more 
efficient than most of that in the shops. 
No. 3. The extract prepared with diluted alcohol also 
had the odor of the root, but its taste was more bitter and 
acrid than No. 1, due to its containing all the acrid resin and 
salseparine of the quantity of root employed. It dissolved 
almost completely in water. 
No. 2. This extract possessed the peculiar acrimony of 
Sarsaparilla more decidedly than either of the others, it be- 
ing composed principally of acrid resin and salseparine, with 
some extractive. 
vol. ix. — no. i. 2 
