^mF^\P89um'}       Vegetable  Drugs  Used  in  Mexico.  67 
table  acid,  as  an  experiment  with  acetate  of  lead  proved,  but  it  was 
due  to  a  free  mineral  acid.  The  ash  of  the  mucilage  precipitate 
consisted  largely  of  calcium  phosphate,  also  the  ash  of  the  dextrin 
precipitate,  but  this  contained  likewise  much  chloride  and  sulphate 
of  potassium.  The  ash  of  the  caustic  soda  extract  contained  phos- 
phoric acid,  no  lime  and  it  would  appear  as  if  the  free  mineral 
acid  was  phosphoric  acid.  The  cellulose  finally  contained  io-6o 
per  cent,  of  silica  and  insoluble  matter. 
A  quantitative  analysis  of  the  ashes  of  the  leaves  was  made,  and 
showed  the  presence  of  3-55  per  cent.  KC1,  K2S04  and  KOH  ;  3-67 
per  cent,  of  Ca;  2-22  per  cent,  of  P203.    Iron  was  not  present. 
No  alkaloids  could  be  found  in  the  petroleum  ether  extract. 
The  ether  extract  contained  a  small  amount  of  an  alkaloid,  which 
seemed  to  be  solanidine.  It  is  present  in  such  small  quantities  that 
the  amount  obtained  from  500  gm.  of  the  leaves  was  insufficient 
for  further  experiments.    It  did  not  reduce  Fehling's  solution. 
The  alkaloid  extracted  by  alcohol  was  identified  as  solanine  by 
the  following  reactions  :  It  reduces  Fehling's  solution  after  having 
been  boiled  with  an  acid  ;  its  salts  gelatinize  when  evaporated  over 
H2S04 ;  HgCl2  throws  down  a  white  flocculent  precipitate  ;  Mayer's 
solution  gives  a  similar  precipitate,  and  AuCl3  causes  a  yellow  pre- 
cipitate, with  gradual  reduction  of  metallic  gold. 
Five  hundred  gm.  were  used  for  the  extraction  of  solanine,  but 
only  0-2  gm.  of  a  fairly  pure  product  could  be  obtained. 
Starch  was  not  present  in  the  leaves. 
In  concluding,  I  would  say  that  water  extracts  the  alkaloid. 
This  is  contrary  to  the  statements  of  other  investigators  on  sola- 
nine  in  other  plants,  but  in  this  case  it  is  due  to  the  presence  of  the 
free  mineral  acid  referred  to. 
Laboratory,  Mansfield  Drug  Co., 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  January  16,  1 891 . 
NOTES  ON  VEGETABLE  DRUGS  USED. IN  MEXICO. 
By  John  M.  Maisch. 
\_Continiied  from  p.  <?.] 
Anacardiaceaz. — Schinus  Molle,  Linn'e.  Professor  S.  Perez  has 
analyzed  the  fruit  (La  Farmacia,  I,  p.  1)  with  the  following  results  : 
Glucose,  acrid  and  bitter  resin-acid,  volatile  oil,  tannin,  leptin  (?), 
etc. 
