Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  18S6. 
Sumbicl. 
395 
nocoll,  lactophenin,  acetanilid  and  exalgin,  yellow  and  but  slightly 
turbid  solutions ;  after  cooling  by  immersing  in  cold  water,  and 
supersaturating  the  tests  with  acetic  acid,  salopJien  becomes  yellow- 
ish red;  phenacetin,  methacetin,  lactophenin  and  phenocoll  become 
purplish  red  (permanganate  color) ;  acetanilid  yellow  and  then  yel- 
lowish red;  exalgin  bluish  green.  This  last  test,  upon  addition  of 
ammonia,  then  gives  rise  to  a  lilac  coloration. 
If  too  much  potassium  permanganate  be  added  in  this  test,  some 
of  the  colors  will  not  be  obtainable  ;  there  should  _be  a  turbidity, 
but  not  a  distinct  precipitate  of  manganic  hydrate,  after  boiling  with 
the  added  permanganate. 
SUMBUL.1 
By  John  H.  Hahn. 
The  late  Professor  Maisch  stated,  in  the  National  Dispensatory, 
after  giving  a  brief  description  of  the  constituents  isolated  by 
Reinsch  in  1848,  and  MurawjefT  in  1853,  that  the  chemistry  of 
sumbul  required  further  researches.  It  was  this  statement  that 
prompted  the  writer  to  investigate  the  subject.2  The  root  analyzed 
was  obtained  in  open  market,  and  reduced  to  powder  by  grinding. 
1,000  grammes  were  thoroughly  wetted  with  petroleum  benzin 
and  allowed  to  stand  for  two  days ;  the  whole  was  then  transferred 
to  a  glass  percolator  and  the  drug  exhausted.  The  percolate  was 
evaporated  until  no  weight  was  lost,  and  the  residue  devoid  of  the 
odor  of  petroleum  benzin.  By  this  means  17-25  per  cent,  of  fixed 
oil  was  obtained,  of  a  yeljowish  or  yellow  color,  becoming  black- 
brown  by  age.  It  was  thick,  viscid,  rather  bland,  but  afterwards  of  a 
bitterish  taste,  and  when  rubbed  between  the  fingers  gave  a  dis- 
agreeable odor.  It  was  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether  and  bisulphide  of 
carbon,  and  was  readily  saponified  by  a  solution  of  potassa.  Upon 
1  Read  at  the  meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association,  June 
18,  1896. 
2  Query  No.  82.—  It  is  asserted  that  a  larger  part  of  the  sumbul  root  of  com- 
merce is  fictitious  ;  if  it  is  so,  what  does  it  consist  of,  and  how  does  it  differ 
from  the  genuine  ? 
In  reference  to  this  query,  no  evidence  could  be  gathered  which  would 
warrant  the  statement  made  in  the  above  query.  In  proof  of  this,  four  analyses 
were  made,  from  as  many  samples  obtained  from  as  many  different  firms, 
and  all  gave  the  same  results  both  chemically  and  physically. 
