298  ON  THE  SEEDS  OF  STRYCHNOS  IGNATIA. 
Resin — A  tincture  was  prepared  by  macerating  a  portion 
of  the  contused  beans,  in  an  equal  proportion  of  alcohol  and 
ether  for  several  days,  which  upon  the  addition  of  water,  was 
rendered  slightly  milky,  and  upon  being  allowed  to  stand  for  a 
few  hours  deposited  a  small  amount  of  resin. 
Coloring  Matter, — Yellow  coloring  matter  is  also  a  constituent 
of  the  beans ;  it  is  soluble  in  alcohol  and  water,  but  insoluble  in 
ether. 
The  decoction  of  the  beans  slightly  reddens  litmus  from  the 
presence  of  igasuric  acid. 
Tincture  of  iodine  produces  a  yellowish  brown  color  with  the 
decoction. 
Tincture  of  the  sesquichloride  of  iron  produces  a  greenish 
coloration  with  the  decoction ;  but  this  does  not  depend  on  the 
presence  of  tannic  acid,  for  a  solution  of  gelatine  produces  no 
precipitate  with  the  decoction. 
Solution  of  the  ammoniacal  sulphate  of  copper  produces  a 
beautiful  emerald  green  color  both  with  the  infusion  and  decoc- 
tion. 
Tannic  acid  added  to  the  decoction  of  the  beans  produces  a 
grayish  precipitate,  which  is  tannate  of  strychnia  and  brucia 
with  coloring  matter. 
Nitric  acid  produces  with  the  decoction,  first  a  violet  color, 
which  gradually  assumes  a  deep  red,  and  finally  changes  to  a 
yellow  color. 
Acetate  and  sub-acetate  of  lead  cause  dense  precipitates. 
Alcohol  also  produces  a  precipitate  which  is  gum. 
Ammonia  produces  a  beautiful  wine  color. 
Incineration, — Two  hundred  grains  of  the  contused  beans  were 
incinerated,  and  yielded  twenty-two  grains  of  ashes,  in  which 
lime  and  potassa  were  detected. 
Bassorin — A  small  amount  of  insoluble  gum  was  also  detected 
in  the  beans. 
Albumen, — No  albumen  could  be  detected  by  the  requisite 
tests. 
Recapitulation. — From  the  foregoing  experiments  the  con- 
stituents of  the  beans  have  been  found  to  be  as  follows  : 
Two  alkaloids,  strychnia  and  brucia,  in  combination  with 
igasuric  acid,  a  volatile  principle  (supposed  to  be  an  oil,)  a 
