XEROPHYLLUM SETIFOLIUM. 
185 
The alcoholic tincture is rendered turbid by the addition of 
Water, and deposits a precipitate on standing. 
By evaporation, it yields a resinous extract. 
An ethereal tincture was made by digesting a portion of 
the bruised root in sulphuric ether for thirty-six hours. On 
evaporating this an oily matter was obtained, which commu- 
nicated a greasy stain to paper, and was saponifiable. 
A quantity of the root, amounting to about five ounces, 
was macerated in water for forty-eight hours, and then the 
temperature increased to ebullition. The decoction, thus 
prepared, possessed the sensible properties of the root. To 
this, subacetate of lead was added until it ceased to cause a 
precipitate, then filtered, and the excess of lead separated by 
a current of hydrosulphuric acid in the usual manner. By 
these means the decoction is deprived of a large quantity of ve- 
getable matter, and is nearly colorless. An excess of magne- 
sia was then added, and the whole thrown on a filter, to sepa- 
rate the precipitate. This, when dried, was treated with 
boiling alcohol, and the filtered solution evaporated to dryness. 
The residue consists of a mass of acicular crystals, agglutinated 
together by some foreign matter; by redissolving in alcohol, 
and boiling with animal charcoal, they are deprived of most 
of their color. 
This substance has a marked bitterness, which is sensible for 
some time in the mouth; has a decided alkaline action on 
reddened litmus paper, and is capable of saturating acids, and 
forming with them crystallizable salts. It is very soluble in 
alcohol and ether, and but slightly soluble in water; nitric 
acid decomposes it without turning it red. 
Combined with sulphuric acid, this alkaloid forms a salt, 
crystallizing in beautiful tufts of acicular crystals, radiating 
from a common centre. It is very soluble in water, but less 
so in alcohol. 
The nitrate, hydrochlorate, and acetate, all crystallize, 
though the latter with difficulty, owing to its disposition to 
absorb moisture. 
From the alkaline nature of this principle, it should be 
tol. v. — no. m, 24 
