180 ON FRASERA WALTERI. 
When gently evaporated in a water bath, a yellow crystalline 
mass appeared, resembling moist sugar. It was acted 
on by diluted alcohol ; a small portion of matter was not 
taken up, resembling that which was not dissolved in the pre- 
ceding case ; again evaporated, minute crystals of a bright 
yellow color appeared, possessing no odor, and little if any 
taste. They dissolve readily in alcohol and ether, and in 
alkaline solutions, which render them of a deeper yellow 
color. Hydrochloric acid dissolves them, and at the same 
time deprives them of color. On the addition of nitric acid 
a deep blood-red solution is formed ; by heating it, nitrous 
acid gas is driven off, and its red color disappears. Sulphuric 
acid also turns them to a red color, though not so brilliant as 
by nitric acid. They are nearly insoluble in cold water, which, 
however, acquires a milky appearance. Boiling water dis- 
solves a small quantity which is precipitated on cooling. 
My attempt to sublime a portion in a glass tube did not 
succeed ; on the application of a gentle heat it melts, and 
upon reducing the temperature becomes a solid mass of a yel- 
lowish-white color, resembling yellow beeswax; it is decom- 
posed by a greater heat, takes fire on the approach of flame 
and burns with a reddish light, attended with much smoke ; 
a light ash is left which may be dissipated by exposure to 
heat and air. Its alcoholic solution slightly reddened litmus 
paper; with a solution of carbonate of potassa there was a slight 
effervescence ; and tincture of muriate of iron caused a deep 
greenish-black precipitate. From these last experiments I 
am inclined to believe that this substance consists of gallic acid 
combined with a yellow coloring principle ; from the small 
quantity obtained, my experiments were necessarily limited, 
and the properties of gallic acid are very concisely treated of, 
in the authorities to which I had access. 
The extract prepared by boiling an ounce of the root in a 
pint of water, and evaporating to the solid consistence in 
a water bath, was of a dark brown color, its taste was at first 
sweetish, followed by a pleasant bitterness. By this mode 
two drachms ofextract of a consistence to form pills, were ob- 
