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ON VERATRUM VIRIDE. 97 
this analogy is carried out in not being changed to a red color 
on the addition of concentrated nitric acid, and from its form- 
ing salts with the acids; none of which are crystallizable but 
the sulphate, tartrate, and oxalate; the two latter partaking 
of the characters of the acids with which it is combined. AH 
of the salts possess the errhine property of their base. 
Experiment 7. — A portion of the root was incinerated, and 
the ashes treated with boiling water, and the liquor filtered. 
This was alkaline to reddened litmus paper, and formed a 
crystalline salt with nitric acid, having the characters of 
nitrate of potassa. The remaining insoluble portion was 
treated with boiling muriatic acid, which, when filtered and 
treated with sulphuric acid, gave evidence of lime by forming 
a white precipitate. 
In reviewing the results of the foregoing experiments, I 
am led to conclude that the constituents of veratrum viride 
are, 1. gum; 2, starch; 3. sugar; 4. bitter extractive; 5. 
fixed oily matter; 6. coloring matter; 7. gallic acid; 8. 
an alkaloid substance, identical with veratria; 9. salts of 
lime and potassa; to which may be added, lignin. 
VOL. IV. — NO. II. 
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