Am.  Jou».  Pharm  ) 
May  1,1874.  J 
Resi7ia  Bodophylli. 
229 
of  cupric  oxide,  it  became  of  a  bluish  green  color,  forming  upon 
standing,  a  slight  flocculent  precipitate,  "which  upon  boiling  turned  to 
reddish  brown.  The  liquid,  when  freed  as  much  as  possible  of  color- 
ing matter  by  ether,  was  precipitated  by  barium  hydrate,  the  precipi. 
tate  collected  and  washed  with  a  solution  of  the  same,  dissolved 
in  a  small  portion  of  water  and  the  barium  removed  by  C02,  the 
resulting  solution  upon  evaporation  possessed  the  peculiar  odor  of 
saponin,  tending  to  confirm  the  statement  of  Professor  Mayer  as  to 
the  presence  of  this  substance,  to  which  is  no  doubt  partially  due  the 
extremely  irritating  effect  upon  the  eyes  and  skin,  experienced  by 
those  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  the  resin  on  a  large  scale. 
The  residue  contained  in  the  percolator,  after  exhaustion  by  alcohol, 
was  macerated  with  cold  water  for  five  days,  filtered  and  evaporated 
to  the  consistence  of  an  extract,  possessing  a  sweetish  odor,  in  color 
and  taste  closely  resembling  the  English  extract  of  taraxacum.  This 
was  taken  in  doses  of  from  ten  to  twenty  grains,  producing  only 
slightly  laxative  but  decided  tonic  effects.  Although  proving  that 
the  rhizome  after  exhaustion  by  alcohol  is  almost  entirely  destitute  of 
cathartic  properties,  yet  the  extract  thus  obtained  may,  upon  trial, 
merit  some  application. 
This  extract  was  again  liquified  and  treated  with  purified  animal 
charcoal,  which  nearly  deprived  it  of  color  ;  the  solution  gave  a  dense 
precipitate  upon  the  addition  of  alcohol,  which,  when  separated,  by 
treatment  with  ferric  chloride  and  solution  of  borax,  was  found  to 
consist  principally  of  gum.  The  solution,  after  the  removal  of  the 
gum,  contained  extractive  matter  with  some  sugar  ;  the  latter,  after 
separation  by  ether,  was  indicated  by  Trominer's  test,  and  upon  evap- 
orating the  solution  and  heating  the  odor  of  caramel  was  evolved. 
The  charcoal  was  then  exhausted  with  boiling  alcohol ;  this  liquid, 
however,  upon  evaporation,  left  but  a  slight  amorphous  residue. 
Upon  the  officinal  resin,  as  previously  obtained,  sulphuric  and 
hydrochloric  acids  produce  no  change  of  color  in  the  cold;  nitric  acid 
colors  it  deep  reddish  brown  ;  when  heated  with  concentrated  sul- 
phuric acid  it  is  partially  dissolved,  forming  at  first  a  yellowish  solu- 
tion, which  soon  changes  to  a  deep  blood  red,  and  upon  dilution  with 
water,  separates  flocks  of  a  brownish  red  color.  The  portion  undis- 
solved by  the  concentrated  acid  is  dissolved  by  alcohol  with  the 
formation  of  the  same  blood  red  color.  The  resin,  when  boiled  with 
diluted  sulphuric  acid,  is  also  partially  dissolved,  forming  a  red  solu- 
I 
