ON FRASERA WALTERI. 
179 
tion. The same phenomenon took place on the addition of 
water of ammonia. 
Sulphuric acid nearly destroys its color. 
The infusion was not affected by the following metallic 
salts: bichloride of mecury, sulphate of copper, sulphate of 
zinc, and tartrate of antimony and potassa. 
The decoction was made by boiling an ounce of the bruised 
root in a pint and a half of water to one pint; it was of a 
light wine color, and did not affect litmus or turmeric paper. 
The infusion was prepared by adding a pint of boiling water 
to an ounce of the bruised root. The tincture was of a dark 
wine color, and prepared by macerating one ounce of the 
bruised root in a pint of diluted alcohol for fourteen days. 
By macerating an ounce of the bruised root in half a pint of 
alcohol, specific gravity, .84, a tincture was obtained of a 
light straw color, and possessed of the sensible properties of the 
root. Upon the addition of water to this, a precipitation took 
place, showing resin to be a constituent. 
A peculiar proximate principle has been discovered in the 
root of Gentiana lutea by MM. Henry and Caventou. 
was induced to try a process similar to theirs with this root, 
as these plants belong to the same natural family of Gentianeae, 
and possess analogous properties in a medicinal point of view. 
One ounce of the coarsely powdered root was subjected to 
the action of sulphuric ether s. g. .73, in a displacement ap- 
paratus, by which process a saturated tincture was obtained of 
a rich straw color; neither litmus nor turmeric paper were 
affected by it. This was evaporated in a water bath to the 
consistence of a syrup ; after a few hours rest it assumed the 
appearance of an extract of a bright yellow color, and crys- 
talline in its structure, possessing a fatty, nauseous taste, with 
but little bitterness. It was then treated with two ounces of 
alcohol s. g. .84, which dissolved it, with the exception of a 
small portion of viscid fatty matter, insoluble in cold alcohol 
and water, soluble in ether and boiling alcohol, which precipi- 
tates it upon cooling ; it leaves a permanent stain upon paper. 
The alcoholic tincture was also of a bright yellow color. 
