Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
April,  1899.  / 
Bark  of  Pinus  Echinata. 
i65 
Moisture. — A  weighed  portion  of  the  bark  was  dried  in  an  air- 
bath  at  a  temperature  of  uo°  until  the  weight  became  constant. 
The  loss  in  weight  was  figured  as  moisture,  and  amounted  to  8  55 
per  cent,  of  the  bark. 
Ash. — This  dried  bark  was  then  ignited  to  constant  weight.  The 
ash  remaining  amounted  to  1-4  per  cent,  of  the  bark.  Of  this  ash, 
16-07  per  cent,  was  soluble  in  water,  39-29  per  cent,  was  soluble  in 
hydrochloric  acid  and  44-64  per  cent,  consisted  of  siliceous  matter. 
The  part  soluble  in  water  was  alkaline  to  litmus  paper.  It  was 
tested  qualitatively,  and  potassium,  sodium  and  sulphates  were 
found.  The  acid  solution  showed  calcium  in  the  form  of  phos- 
phates. The  ash  also  contained  calcium  carbonate.  The  insoluble 
portion  gave  the  silica  skeleton  with  the  microcosmic  salt  bead. 
Extraction — A  weighed  portion  of  the  bark  was  then  treated  with 
the  various  solvents  according  to  Dragendorff's  scheme.  In  each 
case  the  solvent  was  applied  in  successive  portions  until  it  had  no 
further  action  upon  the  bark. 
In  the  case  of  the  petroleum  ether,  ether  and  absolute  alcohol 
extractions,  the  successive  portions  of  the  same  solvent  were  united 
and  the  solvent  recovered  by  distillation.  This  left  the  extracted 
matter  in  a  concentrated  form.  It  was  then  dried  to  constant  weight, 
in  each  case  at  uo°.  After  the  bark  had  been  exhausted  with 
petroleum  ether,  it  was  carefully  heated  to  drive  off  the  last  trace 
of  the  solvent.  This  operation  was  repeated  after  the  ether  extrac- 
tion and  again  after  the  absolute  alcohol  extraction.  Each  of  the 
three  aqueous  extractions  was  made  up  to  a  definite  volume.  In 
each  case  an  aliquot  part  of  the  volume  was  evaporated  to  dryness 
on  water-bath,  in  order  to  estimate  the  total  solids.  The  residue 
so  obtained  was  then  ignited,  which  gave  the  amount  of  inorganic 
constituents.    The  difference  gave  the  amount  of  organic  solids. 
All  percentages  given  in  the  description  of  the  extracts  are 
based  upon  the  air-dried  powdered  bark. 
Petroleum  Ether  Extract. — This  extract  amounted  to  1-66  per 
cent.,  was  solid,  of  a  dark  brown  color,  and  had  a  rosin-like  odor. 
It  was  first  treated  with  alcohol  and  filtered. 
The  filtrate  was  evaporated  to  constant  weight  on  a  water-bath  ; 
the  resulting  extract  was  of  a  dark  brown  color,  had  a  rosin-like 
odor,  was  solid  at  room  temperature,  but  liquid  at  temperature  of 
the  water-bath.    It  amounted  to  109  per  cent,  of  the  bark.    It  was 
