Am.  Jour.  Pharin. )  Lasiosipkofi  M eissneriauiis. 
February,  1911.   J  ^  , 
55 
Ether,  Chloroform,  Ethyl  Acetate,  and  Alcohol  Extracts  of  the  Resin. 
These  extracts  were  dark  brown,  resinous  masses,  and  amounted 
to  24.7,  35.0,  47.0,  and  150  grammes  respectively. 
The  ether  and  chloroform  extracts  were  examined  by  shaking 
their  respective  solutions  successively  with  aqueous  sodium  car- 
bonate and  sodium  hydroxide.  Furthermore,  all  the  above-men- 
tioned extracts  were  heated  with  5  per  cent,  sulphuric  acid  in  aqueous 
alcohol,  and  with  a  10  per  cent,  solution  of  sodium  hydroxide,  but 
by  none  of  these  methods  could  any  definite  product  be  obtained 
from  them. 
Fusion  of  the  Resin  with  Potassium  Hydroxide. 
A  quantity  (25  grammes)  of  the  powdered  resin  was  gradually 
introduced  into  150  grammes  of  potassium  hydroxide  in  a  state  of 
fusion,  and  the  temperature  of  the  mixture  maintained  at  about  260° 
for  some  time.  After  cooling,  the  mass  was  dissolved  in  water,  the 
solution  acidified  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  distilled  in  a  current  of 
steam.  The  distillate  contained  some  volatile  acid,  which  was  con- 
verted into  a  barium  salt,  the  latter  amounting  to  2.5  grammes.  An 
examination  of  this  salt  showed  the  volatile  acid  to  consist  chiefly  of 
a  mixture  of  formic  and  butyric  acids. 
After  the  removal  of  the  volatile  acids,  as  above  described,  the 
liquid  in  the  distillation  flask  was  separated  by  filtration  from  a 
quantity  of  resinous  material,  and  extracted  with  ether.  The  ether- 
eal liquid  was  then  shaken  successively  with  a  solution  of  sodium 
carbonate  and  a  10  per  cent,  solution  of  sodium  hydroxide.  The 
sodium  carbonate  liquid  was  acidified  and  extracted  with  ether,  but 
on  evaporating  this  ethereal  liquid  only  a  small  amount  of  a  tarry 
residue  was  obtained,  the  solution  of  which  gave  a  green  color  with 
ferric  chloride.  The  solution  of  sodium  hydroxide  removed  nothing 
from  the  ethereal  liquid,  and  on  finally  evaporating  the  latter  a  small 
amount  of  a  dark  colored,  amorphous  product  was  obtained,  which 
possessed  an  exceedingly  unpleasant  odor. 
Notwithstanding  the  very  complete  examination  to  which  the 
roots  of  Lasiosiphon  Meissnerianus,  Endl.,  have  been  subjected,  it 
will  be  seen  that  they  have  yielded  but  little  of  chemical  interest. 
The  chief  constituent  of  the  root  is  an  amorphous  resin,  to  which,  as 
had  previously  been  observed,  its  acrid  properties  are  evidently  due. 
