116 
ON  A  SPURIOUS  EXTRACT  OF  JALAP. 
other  than  that  of  scammony.  As  the  resin  of  Messrs.  McAn- 
drew  is  not  a  resin  from  exudation,  but  prepared  by  maceration 
of  the  root  in  alcohol  and  precipitation  by  water,  it  may  account 
for  the  presence  of  a  resin  other  than  that  usually  recognised  as 
pure  resin  of  scammony. 
In  Acids  Warm  nitric  acid  of  35°  B.  dissolves  the  resin 
imperfectly. 
In  Chloroform — Yery  soluble. 
In  Alcohol  and  Ether — Soluble. 
In  pure  Benzole — Insoluble. 
In  Aqua-ammonia. — Soubeiran  states  that  the  resin  dissolves 
in  the  menstruum,  the  solution  having  a  beautiful  green  color. 
The  pure  resin  is  very  sparingly  soluble  in  ammonia,  and  only 
after  long  standing.  The  presence  of  some  copper  salt  derived 
from  the  vessels  used  may  perhaps  account  for  the  green  color ; 
the  partial  solution  of  the  resin  being  yellow,  a  combination  with 
the  blue  of  the  copper  salt  would  afford  a  green  color. 
The  resin  of  scammony  fuses  at  142°  C.  [351-5°  F.]  and  has 
the  formula  C40  H66  O20 — (Pelouze  &  Fremy) 
RESIN  OF  GAMBOGE. 
The  resin  of  gamboge  has  decided  acid  properties.  Its 
combinations  with  the  alkalies  are  red,  and  separate  like 
soaps  on  the  addition  of  chloride  of  sodium.  The  formula  of  the 
resin  according  to  Buchner,  is  C60H35O12.  The  gum  which  ac- 
companies the  resin  has,  according  to  Buchner,  the  same  compo- 
sition as  starch. — (Pelouze  &  Fremy.) 
Nitric  acid  35°  B.  when  hot,  decolorizes  the  resin,  leaving  it 
crisp  and  friable. 
In  Ether  and  Alcohol — Soluble. 
In  Chloroform — Very  soluble. 
In  pure  Benzole — Very  soluble.  [Pure  benzole  dissolves 
nearly  its  own  weight  of  alcoholic  resin  of  gamboge.] 
EXAMINATION  OF  SOPHISTICATED  EXTRACT  OF  JALAP. 
Color,  not  as  dark  as  extract  of  jalap;  when  pulled,  becomes 
yellow  on  the  edges.    Odor  deficient. 
Taste — Very  slightly  bitter  and  not  acrimonious. 
Strong  Alcohol  extracted  69  per  cent,  of  soluble  matter. 
Ether  dissolved  34  out  of  the  69  per  cent,  of  alcoholic  extract. 
