ON VERATRUM VIRIDE. 
95 
brown one, which became darker by exposure, with the proto- 
sulphate of iron, and a light yellowish-brown one with lime 
water. 
Experiment 2. — A decoction made by boiling an ounce of 
the bruised root in a pint of water for fifteen minutes, was of 
a reddish-brown color, had an acid reaction with litmus paper, 
and was changed to brown by the pure alkalies. From the re- 
action of the decoction with the sulphur salts of iron, I am led 
to believe it contains gallic acid in a free state; with alcohol, 
this also produces a precipitate. On the addition of tincture 
of iodine, a deep blue color is produced, the well known 
characteristic of starch. 
Experiment 3. — A portion of the root w T as distilled with 
water in a retort, until part of the water was driven over. 
Neither this, nor the water remaining in the retort with 
the root, possessed the smell of the latter, and that which 
distilled over was also void of the taste and acrimony pecu- 
liar to the root. 
Experiment 4. — The tincture made by digesting a portion 
of the bruised root in diluted alcohol for ninety-six hours, was 
of a reddish-wine color. This was acid to test paper, formed 
a yellowish precipitate with lime water, and a copious white 
one with subacetate of lead. On the addition of the pure 
alkalies, the color of the tincture was deepened, and the mix- 
ture assumed a turbid appearance. With water, the tincture 
became turbid from the separation of resin. The tincture has a 
bitter and permanently acrid taste, communicating to the mouth 
and fauces a sense of burning and dryness. A portion of this 
tincture was evaporated to the consistence of an extract, 
which had the sensible properties before described, in a very 
concentrated degree, though at first sweetish to the taste. This 
is of a dark color, somewhat resinous, and partially soluble in 
absolute alcohol, which leaves the gummy matter taken up 
by the diluted menstruum. It is insoluble in cold ether, and 
is partially soluble in the fluids of the mouth. 
