♦ 
ON  BAPTISIA  TINCTORXA. 
311 
by  the  addition  of  nitric  acid,  and  by  a  copious  precipitate 
being  thrown  down  with  a  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate,  after 
being  slightly  acidulated  with  acetic  acid. 
By  boiling  the  infusion  and  filtering  to  remove  the  albumen, 
I  obtained  a  precipitate  by  adding  a  solution  of  the  basic 
acetate  of  lead,  indicating  the  presence  of  gum. 
The  tincture  of  iodine  was  added  to  the  decoction  of  the 
root,  turning  it  of  a  deep  blue  color,  which  was  dissipated  by 
boiling  a  sufficient  length  of  time,  proving  the  presence  of  starch. 
The  addition  of  a  solution  of  the  persulphate  of  iron  to  a 
strong  infusion,  failed  to  detect  either  tannic  or  gallic  acid. 
The  presence  of  tannic  acid  was  neither  indicated  by  a  solution 
of  gelatin,  nor  by  sulphate  of  quinia. 
To  a  concentrated  tincture  made  with  strong  alcohol,  a  large 
quantity  of  water  was  added ;  a  yellowish  resin  was  thrown 
down,  two  drachms  and  two  scruples  being  obtained  from  two 
pounds  of  the  root. 
A  quantity  of  the  root  was  boiled  with  water  acidulated  with 
muriatic  acid,  and  the  liquor  strained ;  to  this  was  added, 
slightly  in  excess,  a  diluted  milk  of  lime,  which  caused  a 
copious  precipitate  ;  this  precipitate  was  collected,  washed  re- 
peatedly with  distilled  water  and  dried  ;  the  dried  precipitate 
was  treated  with  boiling  alcohol,  and  the  filtered  solution 
evaporated,  leaving  an  extract  of  a  light  yellowish  color  ;  this 
was  treated  with  hot  water  slightly  acidulated  with  sulphuric 
acid,  agitated  with  animal  charcoal,  filtered  and  set  aside  to 
crystallize.  This  liquid  had  the  strong  disagreeable  taste  of 
the  root,  and  yielded  perfectly  transparent  crystals  in  plates, 
similar  to  those  of  chlorate  of  potassa. 
On  adding  a  slight  excess  of  solution  of  ammraonia  to  this 
liquid,  a  white  feathery  precipitate  was  produced.* 
The  root  employed  was  some  collected  by  myself,  near  Media, 
*The  probability  is  great  that  the  author  has  here  isolated  a  new  alka- 
loid, but  so  little  interest  has  he  manifested  in  the  result  of  his  investiga- 
tions, that  he  gives  us  no  clue  to  its  character.  He  does  not  say  whether 
it  has  an  alkaline  reaction,  a  bitter  taste,  or  is  destructible  by  heat,  This 
careless,  incomplete  way  of  recording  is  greatly  to  be  deprecated,  and 
deprives  those  who  adopt  it  of  much  of  the  credit  otherwise  due  them.— 
Ed.  Am.  Journ.  Pharm. 
