274 
Epiphegus  Virginiana. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1893. 
Nearly  as  much  loss  in  moisture  occurred  when  the  substance  was 
dried  in  a  vacuum  over  sulphuric  acid  at  ordinary  temperatures,  as 
when  it  was  heated  in  an  air  bath  at  1 10°.  No  further  loss  was  noted 
on  raising  the  temperature  from  no°  to  120°. 
The  substance,  when  dried  at  these  temperatures,  gave  the  follow- 
ing results  on  combustion  : 
(I)  0*2563  gram  of  substance  gave  0*5543  gram  C03  and  0*1750  gram  H20- 
(II)  0*203   gram  of  substance  gave  0*442   gram  C02  and  0*1429  gram  H20. 
•  (I)  (ii) 
Per  Cent.       Per  Cent. 
Carbon,  58*98  59*36 
Hydrogen,   7*58  7*81 
Oxygen,   33*44  32*83 
IOO  "OO  IOO  "OO 
This  corresponds  to  the  formula  C54H82023. 
In  the  letter  accompanying  the  sample,  Mr.  Eberhardt  expressed 
the  opinion  that  this  substance  resembled  the  phytolaccic  acid  of 
Terreil,  mentioned  in  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1881,  p. 
325.  There  are,  however,  some  important  differences  in  solubility. 
It  would  probably  be  much  nearer  the  truth  to  classify  this  com- 
pound with  the  saponins,  since  it  resembles  the  latter  in  many  of  its 
properties. 
In  1888  (American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  p.  123)  Mr.  W.  A. 
Partee  separated  from  poke  root  an  amorphous  substance  which 
gave  a  reddish  color  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  which  he  considered 
to  be  saponin. 
It  may  be  said  that  the  above  analysis  does  not  indicate  saponin, 
but  in  answer  to  such  an  objection  we  may  recall  the  fact  that  the  dif- 
ference from  the  published  analyses  is  not  great,  that  there  are 
probably  many  saponins,  and  that  it  is  doubtful  if  any  one  of  the 
saponins  has  ever  been  prepared  perfectly  pure. 
EPIPHEGUS  VIRGINIANA. 
By  Albert  C.  Koeppen,  Ph.G. 
Contribution  from  the  Chemical  Laboratory  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. 
No.  124. 
This  indigenous  plant,  commonly  called  "  beech  drop,"  is  parasitic 
on  the  roots  of  the  beech  tree.  Its  medical  properties  are  regarded 
as  astringent  and  depurative. 
