112 DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF A MINERAL, ETC. 
filtered and evaporated to dryness. The resulting saline mat- 
ter was redissolved in water, and divided into two portions ; 
to one, nitrate of silver, and to the other, oxalate of ammonia 
was added, producing in both eases bulky white precipitates, 
evidencing in the first case the existence of hydrochloric acid, 
and in the other lime. Hence the salt is a chloride of cal- 
cium or hydrochlorate of lime in solution. 
In conclusion, the saline matter, as obtained from the natu- 
ral locality, consisted of about ninety-seven per cent, of sul- 
phate of soda, two per cent, of the chlorides of calcium and 
sodium, and one per cent, of impurities. 
THE BARK. 
It now remains for us to examine the bark, previous to 
which, however, let our friend speak for himself, as to its lo- 
cality, etc. " The tree which yields the bark is called by the 
Mexicans, alamo, (this name, however, which means poplar, 
is applied by them to every species of cottonwood,) and by 
Americans, mountain or willow-leaved cottonwood. It re- 
sembles the Mississippi cottonwood, in the external appear- 
ance of the bark and the internal qualities of the wood ; but the 
leaf is long and slender like that of the common willow ; thus, 
* in this respect, differing materially from the Mississippi tree. 
The flower I do not recollect, but it produces a cotton similar 
to that of the common cottonwood. The bark is said to pos- 
sess, in a high degree, the qualities of the Peruvian bark. Its 
growth seems confined to the vicinity of water, being 
found only on the border of rivulets, and the ravines of the 
mountains. I have seen it no where but in the mountains of 
Santa Fe, but it most probably extends through all that spur 
of the Rocky Mountains. I have seen the trees as large as 
two or three feet in diameter." 
Description. — The bark, as presented, was in pieces five 
or six inches long, of a light yellow color, and was evidently 
the inner bark. It possessed a very considerable bitterness, 
with an after taste which reminds one of the common poplar. 
