NOTE UPON THE BARK OF PEREIRA. 
147 
ART. XXIV,— NOTE UPON THE BARK OF PEREIRA. 
By J. Pelletier. 
Some time back, during a visit to Bordeaux, a specimen was 
presented me of a bark which came from Brazil. My col- 
league, M. Guibourt, to whom I showed it, recognised it as 
that of Pereira, of which he had given a description in the 25th 
volume of the Journal de Pharmacies page 706. More cu- 
rious to know its nature than desirious of preserving it, I at- 
tempted upon it a few chemical experiments, and I was led to 
the conclusion that it contained an organic alkali, little soluble, 
and characterized by the beautiful purple color which it assum- 
ed by contact with concentrated nitric acid. 
I wrote to Bordeaux in order to procure a greater quantity 
of the bark of Pereira, and continued my researches ; but I had 
not received an answer when M. Peretti, Professor of Chemis- 
try at Rome, sent me a printed memoir upon the analysis of 
Pereira. I there found the announcement of an organic alkali, 
also characterized by the purple color assumed by the action 
of nitric acid. 
It is, therefore, to M. Peretti that pertains, by right of pri- 
ority, the discovery of the peculiar organic base of the bark of 
Pereira, and my experiments have but the advantage of con- 
firming those of M. Peretti. But there remains much to be 
done upon this substance. I would wish that those chemists 
who can procure larger quantities of the bark, to engage in a 
work of investigation which promises so much interest. 
Jour, de Phar. 
