Aoao°ber^89a8!m'}      Rhizome  of  Arcilia  Calif  or  7iica.  491 
tated  with  the  alkaloidal  reagents  was  thrown  out  of  solution  upon 
adding  to  the  aqueous  liquid  five  times  its  volume  of  alcohol. 
The  residue  of  the  alcoholic  extract  of  the  fresh  rhizome  left  undis- 
solved by  water  was  dissolved  in  hot  alcohol.  It  consisted  chiefly 
of  resinous  substances.  These  gave  a  light-brown  precipitate  with 
an  alcoholic  solution  of  ferric  chloride,  and  a  similar,  but  lighter 
colored,  precipitate  with  alcoholic  solution  of  lead  acetate.  The 
resinous  substances  were  precipitated  when  the  alcoholic  solution 
was  poured  into  water.  The  precipitated  substances  were  soluble 
in  part  in  aqueous  solution  of  potassium  hydrate;  the  remainder 
was  soluble  in  an  alcoholic  solution  of  the  same  reagent. 
That  portion  of  the  recent  rhizome  which  was  insoluble  in  offi- 
cial alcohol  was  submitted  to  Dragendorff's  scheme  of  plant  analy- 
sis. The  process  revealed  the  presence  of  a  small  quantity  of  a  fat 
or  wax  saponifiable  by  alcoholic  solution  of  potassium  hydrate.  A 
small  amount  of  resin  was  also  present.  Mucilage  and  albuminous 
matter  were  found  in  the  aqueous  extract  to  the  extent  of  075  per 
cent.,  and  in  the  alkaline  aqueous  extract  to  the  amount  of  0*98 
per  cent.  Minute  quantities  of  dextrin,  glucose  and  saccharose 
were  present.  Pararabin  and  a  very  considerable  amount  of  calcium 
oxalate  were  found  in  the  acidulated  water  extract.  The  calcium 
oxalate  separated  as  crystals,  when  the  acidulated  water,  which 
was  a  weak  hydrochloric  acid,  was  evaporated.  The  crystals  were 
needle-shaped,  and  arranged  themselves  in  stellate  groups. 
When  received  the  rhizome  contained  70*20  per  cent,  of  moisture 
and  2-22  per  cent,  of  ash.  The  ash  consisted  of  potassium  carbon- 
ate, chloride  and  sulphate,  and  calcium,  magnesium,  aluminum  and 
iron,  in  the  form  of  carbonates  and  phosphates.  A  small  amount 
of  silica  was  also  present. 
The  odor  of  the  rhizome  caused  a  special  search  to  be  made  for 
volatile  oil.  For  this  purpose,  I  kilogramme  of  the  fresh  material 
was  finely  chopped,  placed  in  a  still,  and,  after  allowing  it  to  ma- 
cerate with  water  over  night,  heated  with  the  water.  A  very  small 
amount,  less  than  2  c,c„  of  volatile  oil  collected  in  the  receiving  ves- 
sel. The  liquid  which  came  over  with  the  oil  was  neutral  to  litmus. 
The  oil  had  a  pale-yellow  color,  and  a  very  aromatic  odor ;  the 
latter  resembled  the  odor  of  carrots.  Upon  standing,  the  odor  of 
the  oil  became  more  pleasant.  The  oil  floated  on  water.  It  was 
soluble  in  alcohol. 
