426        Analysis  of  Bark  of  Piscidia  Erythrina.  {As^pg"be^S' 
gator  further  described  the  crystals  as  "  insoluble  in  water;  slightly 
soluble  in  cold,  much  more  in  boiling  alcohol ;  only  slightly  soluble 
in  ether ;  easily  soluble  in  benzene  and  chloroform.  It  is  dissolved 
by  strong  hydrochloric  acid  and  sulphuric  acid,  but  reprecipitated 
apparently  unchanged  by  dilution  with  water.  Fehling's  solution 
failed  to  detect  glucose  or  sucrose.  The  alcoholic  solution  is  neutral 
to  litmus  paper.  Alcoholic  lead  acetate  solution  does  not  produce 
a  precipitate."  The  crystals  melted  at  1920  C.  An  elementary 
analysis  of  them  led  to  the  formula,  C29H2408.  They  were  named 
piscidia. 
The  work  of  the  present  writer  consists  of  a  proximate  analysis 
of  the  bark  and  a  special  search  for  the  principle  called  piscidia. 
The  proximate  analysis  was  conducted  according  to  the  scheme  of 
DragendorfT.  The  material  was  used  in  No.  40  powder.  The  per- 
centages stated  are  for  the  air-dry  bark. 
Per  cent. 
Petroleum  ether  extract : 
Caoutchouc,  saponifiable  wax  and  fat,  etc   o*6i 
Ether  extract : 
Glucose,  saccharose,  resin,  piscidia,  etc  '   o'86 
Absolute  alcohol  extract : 
Glucose,  saccharose,  resin,  etc   0*51 
Water  extract . 
Mucilaginous  and  albuminous  substances,  1478  per  cent.;  dex- 
trin, 3-38  per  cent.;  saccharose,  1*20  per  cent.,  etc.    .  ....  22*43 
Alkaline-water  (2  per  cent.  NaOH  solution)  extract : 
Mucilaginous  and  albuminous  substances,  1*28  per  cent.,  etc.    .  4'4o 
Acidulated  water  (1  per  cent.  HC1  solution)  extract : 
Pararabin,  1*35  per  cent   4"oo 
Starch   1*34 
Moisture   9*25 
Ash: 
Potassium,  sodium,  calcium,  magnesium,  chlorine  and  phos- 
phoric oxide  io'55 
Cellulose  and  undetermined  substances  46*05 
Total  100*00 
Tannin  was  not  found.  The  acidulated  water  extract  contained 
calcium  phosphate  but  not  calcium  oxalate. 
After  completing  the  proximate  analysis  a  special  search  was 
made  for  the  principle  piscidia.  The  method  used  by  Hart  was 
followed.    For  this  purpose  a  fluid  extract  was  made  by  exhaust- 
