ruirilTs™}  Alkaloids  in  Medicated  Waters,  291 
3.    This  vegetable  matter  was  separable  into  the  following : 
Fatty  matter  soluble  in  ether  and  partially  • 
in  strong  alcohol 
•7 
Yellow  resin  soluble  in  alcohol 
2-7 
Gum  and  glucose  from  starch 
•5 
Tannin,  yellow  and  brown  coloring  matters 
(extractive) 
12-6 
Cellulose,  lignin,  &c. 
63-5 
80- 
No  crystalline  alkaloid  or  active  principle  was  separable  by  the 
usual  methods  of  proximate  analysis.  A  plan  similar  to  that  used  for 
cinchona  alkaloids  and  also  that  by  precipitation  with  diacetate  of  lead 
was  tried.    By  distillation  no  volatile  oil  or  acid  was  obtained. 
Whatever  medicinal  virtues  the  plant  may  possess  must  reside  either 
in  the  yellow  resin  or  in  the  extractive  ;  the  former  is  soluble  in  alcohol 
and  the  latter  in  water  ;  in  the  watery  decoction  some  of  the  resin  is 
diffused,  but  the  greater  portion  of  the  resin  is  not  extracted  by  the 
water.  The  therapeutic  position  of  the  plant,  judged  from  analysis, 
might  be  among  the  aromatic  bitters. 
WasJimgton,  D.  0.,  May  2T,  1871. 
ON  SOLUTIONS  OF  ALKALOIDS  IN  MEDICATED  WATERS. 
By  the  Editor. 
In  a  letter  written  shortly  after  his  return  home  from  the  Philadel- 
phia College  of  Pharmacy,  where  he  graduated  in  March  last,  the 
late  John  D.  Owen  communicated  to  the  editor  an  observation  which 
is  of  particular  interest  to  the  medical  and  pharmacial  professions. 
At  our  request,  he  commenced  some  experiments,  which  remained 
unfinished  when  he  was  prostrated  by  sickness.  Since  his  demise  we 
have  verified  his  observation  by  experiment,  and  now  communicate  it  to 
the  readers  of  this  journal,  together  with  some  observations  on  the 
subject. 
Mr.  Owen  had  dispensed  a  prescription  ordering  sulphate  of  mor- 
phia to  be  dissolved  in  peppermint  water ;  the  latter  had  been  made, 
according  to  the  Pharmacopoeia,  by  triturating  the  oil  with  carbonate 
of  magnesia  and  water.  When  the  vial  was  brought  back  for  renewal 
