^oVi°m\rerPhit98n-}       Root  of  Hydrangea  Paniculata.  551 
crystalline  residue  was  obtained  ;  it  was  purified  by  recrystallization. 
The  crystals  were  similar  to  those  obtained  from  the  portion  of  the 
ethereal  extract  which  was  insoluble  in  water,  but  soluble  in  alcohol. 
These  are  yet  to  be  described  in  this  paper.  The  aqueous  layer, 
from  which  the  crystals  had  been  removed  by  ether,  was  heated  on 
a  water-bath  to  expel  the  ether,  and  then  warmed  with  Fehling's 
solution.  This  reagent  was  reduced,  thus  showing  the  presence  of 
a  sugar  or  a  glucosidal  body. 
That  part  of  the  ethereal  extract  which  was  insoluble  in  water 
was  entirely  soluble  in  absolute  alcohol.  The  solution  deposited 
crystals  on  standing.  These  crystals  gave  no  reactions  for  alkaloids. 
On  mixing  water  with  a  portion  of  the  crystals,  and  making  a  part 
of  the  resulting  mixture  alkaline  with  solution  of  sodium  hydrate 
and  applying  Fehling's  solution  with  heat,  there  was  a  reduction  of 
this  reagent.  Another  portion  of  the  mixture  was  made  acid  with 
dilute  sulphuric  acid,  heated  on  a  water-bath  for  some  time,  then 
made  alkaline  and  treated  with  Fehling's  solution ;  the  last  was 
again  reduced.  The  treatment  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  left  a 
resin-like,  insoluble  substance  of  a  brownish  color,  while  the  super- 
natant liquid  acquired  a  decided  fluorescence.  This  fluorescence 
was  removable  by  filtration.  The  foregoing  behaviors  indi- 
cate that  the  principle  itself  reduces  Fehling's  solution,  or  that 
it  is  decomposed  by  alkalies  and  acids,  with  the  production  of  a  sub- 
stance which  reduces  Fehling's  solution.  From  a  concentrated  ethe- 
real solution,  the  principle  crystallized  in  branched  clusters.  It  was 
charred  by  sulphuric  acid,  and  upon  adding  a  crystal  of  potassium 
bichromate,  a  darker  color  and  an  effervescence  were  produced. 
The  principle  melted  at  1780  C.  These  properties  show  that  it  is 
not  identical  with  the  hydrangin  found  by  Bondurant.  The  name, 
para-hydrangin,  is  suggested  for  the  substance  until  further  investi- 
gation shall  decide  its  exact  chemical  identity. 
Absolute  alcohol  dissolved  14-49  Per  cent,  of  extract  from  the 
root.  The  extract  was  partly  soluble  in  water ;  the  remainder  was 
soluble  in  alcohol.  The  aqueous  solution  contained  some  of  the 
crystalline  principle  that  was  found  in  the  aqueous  solution  of  the 
ethereal  extract.  The  alcoholic  solution  of  that  part  of  the  absolute 
alcohol  extract  insoluble  in  water  gave  no  precipitate  with  alcoholic 
solution  of  ferric  chloride.  Lead  acetate  in  alcoholic  solution  caused 
a  yellowish-brown  flocculent  precipitate.    A  third  portion  of  the 
