348  The  Products  of  Ricinus  Communis,  {^]^;^rm' 
Trommer's  test  was  applied,  but  only  a  ropy,  dark-brown  deposit 
•ensued,  changing  ,to  black. 
A  portion  of  the  alcoholic  extract  was  treated  with  six  ounces  of 
acetic  acid,  which  dissolved  some  of  it  ;  boiling  caused  more  of  it  to 
be  taken  up.  This  solution  was  filtered;  the  filtered  liquid  was 
allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneously.  In  a  few  days  needle-shaped 
crystals  were  produced  having  a  brown  color,  probably  from  an  admix- 
ture of  extractive  matter.  But  the  crystals  were  very  deliquescent, 
had  a  burning,  bitter,  acrid  taste  and  were  readily  soluble  on  the  tongue. 
Crystals  closely  resembling  the  former,  but  not  deliquescent,  were 
obtained  by  treating  another  portion  of  the  alcoholic  extract  with  acetic 
ether.  The  brown  extract  left  on  the  filter  was  partially  soluble  in 
alcohol,  ether  and  chloroform,  but  not  soluble  in  benzin,  benzol  and 
bisulphide  of  carbon.  The  three  pounds  of  bean  which  had  been  used 
for  the  production  of  ricinin  were  lastly  boiled  with  one  and  one-half 
gallon  of  water  and  placed  into  an  earthenware  jar  for  four  weeks. 
After  the  fourth  day  a  peculiar  odor,  resembling  that  of  foul  fecal 
matter,  was  developed,  not  like  the  infusion  of  Boerner,  recalling  that 
of  decayed  cheese.  Day  by  day  this  odor  grew  more  intense.  On 
the  fourth  day,  also,  a  marked  acid  reaction  was  perceptible.  On  the 
twenty-eighth  day  it  was  neutralized  with  bicarbonate  of  sodium  and 
evaporated.  The  product,  resembling  crystals  of  butyrate  of  sodium, 
amounted  to  9  ounces  and  2  drachms.  One  pound  each  of  alcohol 
and  sulphuric  acid  were  mixed,  allowed  to  cool  and  then  poured 
upon  the  butyrate  of  sodium  previously  placed  into  a  copper  still.  Heat 
being  applied,  vapors  having  the  characteristic  smell  of  butyric  ether 
were  observed.  The  vapors  were  followed  by  drops  of  an  alcoholic 
solution  of  butyric  ether.  The  yield  was  19J  ounces.  On  shaking 
2  drachms  with  an  equal  weight  of  water,  the  pure  butyric  ether 
floated  on  top.  To  estimate  the  exact  yield,  20  cc.  of  the  liquid 
obtained  and  20  cc.  of  water  were  placed  into  a  graduated  tube  and 
thoroughly  shaken.  Taking  in  consideration  the  10  per  cent,  of  ether 
dissolved  in  the  water,  the  result  was  27*3  per  cent  of  pure  butyric 
ether. 
Following  the  experiments  of  Prof.  Wayne  ("Amer.  Jour.  Phar.," 
1874,  p  85),  the  leaves  of  two  plants  were  dried,  ground  and  sifted, 
yielding  8  troyounces.  On  percolating  4  troyounces  of  these  with  95 
per  cent,  alcohol,  a  grass-green  (not  brown)  liquid  was  obtained.  After 
