194  Analysis  of  Coptis  Irifolia,  Salisb,  {^VayT'fs™ 
Alcohol  dissolved  about  one-third  of  the  extract,  leaving  a  residue 
possessed  of  a  slightly  bitter  aftertaste.  It  was  altogether  soluble  in 
water  and  gave  no  precipitate  with  a  solution  of  iodohydrargyrate  of 
potassium,  while  the  alcoholic  solution  gave  a  dense  one.  The  alco- 
holic solution  on  evaporation  yielded  a  beautiful  garnet  colored  ex- 
tract, wholly  soluble  in  boiling,  and  only  partially  so  in  cold  water. 
A  solution  of  the  original  extract  was  made  with  water,  and  this  so- 
lution tested  for  sugar  by  Trommer's  test,  when  the  red  oxide  of  cop- 
per was  precipitated.  The  test  of  burning  was  also  tried,  and  the 
odor  of  caramel  being  given  off,  the  presence  of  sugar  was  clearly 
proven,  though  the  reduction  in  Trommer's  test,  taking  effect  more 
readily  after  the  solution  had  first  been  boiled  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
caused  doubts  as  to  whether  in  a  free  state  or  as  a  glucoside.  It 
might  readily  be  supposed  in  the  latter  state. 
One  ounce  of  the  herb  was  macerated  with  ether  for  seven  days, 
when  it  was  placed  in  a  displacement  apparatus  and  exhausted,  and 
the  percolate,  which  was  of  a  greenish  black  color,  on  spontaneous 
evaporation,  yielded  an  extract  of  the  same  color,  which  was  proven 
to  be  fatty  resin  by  saponification  when  boiled  with  caustic  potassa  or 
soda.  The  resin  was  insoluble  in  water,  hot  or  cold,  but  completely 
soluble  in  alcohol,  and  proved  to  be  the  same  as  that  obtained  by  al- 
cohol after  the  plant  had  been  exhausted  by  boiling  water.  It  was 
only  partially  soluble  in  petroleum-benzin,  and  had  an  acrid  taste* 
While  evaporating,  the  resin  seemed  to  separate  from  the  remainder 
of  the  solution,  which  looked  like  a  whitish  fatty  oil. 
Investigation  of  the  alcoholic  tincture,  and  principles  contained  there^ 
in. — Eight  avoirdupois  ounces  of  coptis  were  exhausted  with  alcohol, 
yielding  a  dark  greenish  brown  tincture  of  intensely  bitter  taste. 
This  tincture  was  evaporated  to  a  comparatively  small  bulk,  and 
strongly  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  when  a  dark  green  resin- 
like precipitate  was  thrown  down,  which  was  separated  by  filtration  ; 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  water  was  added  to  the  filtrate,  and  the  alco- 
hol driven  off  by  heat.  The  addition  of  water  caused  a  copious  pre- 
cipitation of  a  dark  green  resin-like  substance,  which  accumulated  as 
evaporation  was  continued,  and  assumed  a  dark  brown  and  granular 
appearance  on  cooling.  This,  and  a  precipitate  in  every  way  similar 
which  took  place  on  further  evaporation,  will  be  noticed  hereafter. 
The  supernatant  liquor,  after  the  addition  of  more  hydrochloric  acid, 
was  set  aside  for  awhile  and  deposited  a  brilliant  yellow  mass  of  a 
