602 
So  [anion  Carolincnse. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1890. 
sisting  of  5  sepals;  5  stamens  and  a  prominent  pistil  with  one 
stigma.  It  flowers  from  June  till  September.  The  fruit  is  a  berry 
about  y2  inch  in  diameter,  and  contains  numerous  seeds  around  a 
central  placenta. 
My  attention  was  first  called  to  this  plant  through  the  complaints 
of  farmers  who  had  experienced  considerable  loss  among  their 
horses  and  cattle.  The  farmers  claimed  that  the  animals  die 
suddenly  with  poisonous  symptoms.  Examining  some  of  their 
pastures,  I  found  an  abundance  of  Solanum  carolinense  and  plain 
evidence  that  the  animals  had  fed  on  it. 
I  commenced  investigating  the  composition  of  the  plant  and  have 
just  finished  the  root  part  (leaves  and  fruits  are  under  examination); 
the  results  obtained  may  induce  further  investigation  in  this  direc- 
tion. 
I.  THE  ROOT  BARK. 
As  stated  above,  the  root  is  thin  but  very  tough.  The  bark  is 
thick  and  in  the  fresh  state  fleshy.  On  drying  the  bark  separates 
easily  from  the  inert  wood.  The  samples  for  examination  were 
collected  by  the  author  during  the  fall. 
Petroleum  ether  extract : 
Per  Cent. 
Alkaloids,  0-085 
Volatile  oil,  0*120 
Fat,  0730 
  0-935 
Ether  extract : 
Alkaloids,  0*025 
Resin  soluble  in  alcohol,  0-185 
"  "         ether,  0*025 
  0-235 
Alcohol  extract  : 
Alkaloids  (Solanine),  0*285 
Resin  soluble  in  ether,  0-245 
"   •       "         alcohol  0*020 
  0-550 
Aqueous  extract : 
Mucilage,  0*560 
Dextrin,   .  .  .  /  1  '280 
Albumen,  0*600 
Glucose,  •  i'77o 
Saccharose,  0-750 
Extractive  and  undetermined,  3"52° 
  8*480 
