82 
ON ARUM TRIPHYLLUM. 
its chemical constitution. He informs us that, after having 
macerated the recent root in all the menstrua ordinarily- 
employed, as water, alcohol, ether and olive oil, without 
success, he submitted a portion connected with the leaves 
and stalks to the boiling temperature under water, when a 
small quantity of gas was obtained, which was thought to 
contain the active principle. This gas produced a cloudi- 
ness in lime water, and exploded on the application of a 
lighted taper. 
Dr. Bigelow intimated an intention of resuming his 
researches, which he left in an incomplete state; but I 
have been unable to find any additional remarks from his 
pen. 
The following observations are intended to illustrate this 
subject more fully; and it is believed that the care which 
has been extended to render them correct makes them 
worthy of confidence. 
Four ounces of the recent and finely sliced root were 
placed under an inverted glass funnel, the neck of which 
was accurately stopped with a small glass jet having its 
point sealed. The funnel was entirely filled, and partially 
surrounded with recently boiled water, the temperature 
then raised to the boiling point, and the ebullition continued 
for two hours, until the root ceased to give off gaseous mat- 
ter, and had entirely lost its acrimony. It was then suf- 
fered to cool. About two cubic inches of gas was obtained. 
It supported the respiration of an insect without apparent 
inconvenience to the animal; and a portion, when agitated 
with lime water, produced a slight opalescence; but the 
greater part remained unabsorbed: finally, when the gas 
was caused to issue from the jet by sinking the vessel in 
water, a lighted taper applied to it caused neither explosion 
nor inflammation. 
To test the destructibility of the acrid principle by heat 
more decidedly, the following experiment was made. Into 
a large and strong glass tube, sealed at one end, a portion of 
