448 
Gleanings  in  Materia  Medica. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Sept.,  1886. 
GLEANINGS  IN  MATERIA  MEDICA. 
By  the  Editor. 
Cortex  adstringens  Brasiliensis  is  the  bark  of  Stryphnodendron 
Barbatimao,  Ifartius,  one  of  the  Brazilian  mimosese.  This  bark, 
which  had  been  kept  for  a  prolonged  period,  was  examined  by  V.  TTil- 
buszewitcz  (Phar.  Zeitsch.  f.  Russland,  1886;  reprint),  who  obtained 
comparatively  much  phlobaphene  and  little  tannin,  the  latter  being 
obtained  by  the  process  of  J.  Lowe,  by  precipitating  mth  sodium 
chloride,  redissolving  in  water  and  agitating  with  acetic  acid.  By 
dialysis  a  small  quantity  of  gallic  acid  was  obtained.  The  phloba- 
phene is  readily  soluble  in  ammoniacal  water,  nearly  insoluble  in 
cold  water,  and  is  not  precipitated  by  gelatin.  Three  tannins,  differ- 
ing in  composition,  one  of  them  being  slightly  soluble  in  cold  water, 
were  obtained;  their  reactions  were  similar:  brown  black  with  ferric 
salts ;  light  brown  with  copper  acetate ;  red  brown  with  copper  sul- 
phate; yellow  with  lead  acetate;  blue  green  with  ammonium  vana- 
date; tartar  emetic,  no  precipitate,  etc.  1  gm.  potassium  perman- 
panate  oxidized  1*329  gm.  of  one  tannin,  and  1*305  gm.  of  another 
variety.  Decomposed  with  potassa,  protocatechuic  acid  was  obtained, 
but  phloroglucin  could  not  be  observed.  On  heating  with  diluted 
sulphuric  acid  in  a  sealed  tube,  the  tannin  was  decomposed,  yielding 
phlobaphene,  gallic  acid  and  traces  of  ellagic  acid,  but  no  sugar. 
Bablah  is  the  fruit  of  Acacia  Bambolah,  Roxburgh,  indigenous  to 
India.  V.  Wilbuszewitcz  {Phar.  Ztsch.  PussL,  1886 ;  reprint)  esti- 
mated the  tannin  present  with  potassium  permanganate,  which  indi- 
cated 12.1242  per  cent.,  the  amount  agreeing  nearly  with  the  weight 
of  the  tannin  isolated.  One  of  the  tannins  was  sparingly  soluble  in 
cold  water.  The  reactions  of  the  four  varieties  of  tannin  were  simi- 
lar :  blue  black  with  ferric  salts ;  black  green  with  ammonium  van- 
adate ;  copper  acetate  brown ;  copper  sulphate  yellowish  to  brown  ;  tar- 
tar emetic  yellowish ;  acetate  of  lead  yellowish,  etc.  Gallic  acid  was 
also  obtained  in  notable  quantities.  For  oxidation  1*20125  to  1*27127 
gm.  of  the  four  varieties  of  tannin  required  1  gm.  of  potassium  per- 
manganate. By  decomposition  with  alkalies  the  tannins  yielded  pro- 
tocatechuic acid,  and  by  treatment  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  phloba- 
phene, ellagic  acid  and  gallic  acid  were  obtained. 
Pastinaca  sativa,  Lin. — The  fresh  and  dried  root  were  analyzed  by 
Jos.  T.  Bennett,  who  found  volatile  oil,  traces  of  tannin,  coloring  mat- 
