Am.  Jour.  Pbarm. ) 
March,  1896.  J 
Root  of  Polygonum  Cuspidatinn. 
163 
second  substance,  to  which  they  respectively  assigned  the  melting 
points  1990  and  202°-203°,  and  this  was  considered  by  the  latter 
authors  to  be  probably  a  trihydroxymethylanthraquuione  isomeric 
with  emodin.  The  properties  of  this  substance  agree  very  closely 
with  those  observed  in  this  investigation  for  emodin  monomethyl 
ether,  and  it  appears  possible  that  they  may  be  identical. 
The  ethereal  extract  obtained  during  the  isolation  of  the  poly- 
gonin  was  extracted  with  dilute  alkali,  which  removed  an  exceedingly 
small  quantity  of  emodin.  The  remaining  ethereal  solution,  upon 
evaporation,  left  a  wax  which,  after  recrystallization  from  boiling 
alcohol,  was  obtained  in  beautiful,  colorless  leaflets,  which  resembled 
phenanthrene  in  appearance,  and  melted  at  i34°-i35°.  A  com- 
bustion gave : 
This  result  and  its  physical  properties  make  the  wax  identical 
with  that  of  the  root  bark  of  Morinda  umbellata  (Perkin  and  Hum- 
mel, Trans.,  1894,  65,  867). 
Dyeing  experiments  with  the  roots,  using  mordanted  calico, 
showed,  as  was  to  be  expected  from  the  chemical  examination,  that 
it  was  devoid  of  useful  tinctorial  properties;  faint,  dull  shades  were 
obtained,  evidently  due  to  the  presence  of  a  small  quantity  of  tannin 
matter.  It  is  thus  evident  that  no  yellow  coloring  matter  is  present 
in  this  portion  of  the  plant.  Examination,  however,  showed  that 
the  leaves  contain  a  small  quantity  of  a  substance  which  yields  yel- 
low shades  with  alumina  mordant,  and.  it  is  possible  that  some  con- 
fusion has  arisen  between  the  leaves  and  the  root  with  regard  to 
this  property. 
A  new  serum  has  been  brought  out  by  the  New  York  Biological  and  Vaccinal 
Institute,  known  as  Gibier's  Double  Antitoxin,  which  contains  the  diphtheria 
and  streptococcus  antitoxins,  obtained  from  one  horse  immunized  against  both 
infections. 
An  investigation  of  Bismuth  Subniirate  has  been  made  and  reported  by  Dr. 
Charles  O.  Curtmann,  of  Pharmacopoeia  Research  Committee  D.  The  con- 
clusions arrived  at  are  that  nearly  all  commercial  specimens  are  more  basic 
than  is  demanded  by  the  usually  accepted  symbolic  formulae,  or  else  they  are 
mixtures,  in  indefinite  proportions,  of  bismuth  hydroxide  with  the  true  subui- 
trate.    The  latter  is  most  likely  the  correct  view. 
Required  for 
Carbon  . 
Hydrogen 
83*19 
ii"6o 
C18H2gO. 
83-08 
1075 
