390  Some  Constituents  of  Corn'us  Florida.  {Kxa^'J^ 
ON  SOME  CONSTITUENTS  OF  CORNUS  FLORIDA. 
By  Andrew  G.Frey,  Ph.G. 
From  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
The  bark  of  the  tree  is  the  officinal  portion,  obtained  both  from  the 
stem  and  root,  that  of  the  latter  being  the  best.  It  is  tonic,  astringent 
and  antiperiodic.  Although  little  used  at  present,  it  doubtless  deserves, 
more  attention  in  intermittent  fevers,  especially  in  the  milder  stages. 
The  object  of  my  experiments  was  mainly  the  isolation  of  the  bitter 
principle. 
Two  pounds  of  the  ground  stem  bark,  collected  early  in  March,  were 
macerated  and  percolated  with  water.  The  percolate,  being  of  a  bright 
red  color,  bitter  and  astringent  taste,  turned  to  a  dense  blackish-blue 
color  on  the  addition  of  solution  of  perchloride  of  iron,  indicating  the 
presence  of  tannin.  The  infusion  was  detannated  by  agitating  with 
freshly  precipitated  hydrate  of  lead  until  no  change  of  color  was  pro- 
duced on  the  addition  of  perchloride  of  iron,  then  filtered  and  evapo- 
rated over  a  low  heat  to  a  soft  extract,  very  dark  in  color,  and  at  first 
sweetish  and  afterwards  bitter  taste,  very  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,, 
and  having  an  acid  reaction  on  test-paper.  The  extract  was  treated 
with  a  mixture  of  two  parts  alcohol  and  one  of  strong  ether  for  a  few 
days  ;  the  liquid  decanted  from  the  residue  was  of  a  yellowish  colory 
acid  reaction,  and  sweetish  then  bitter  taste.  It  was  concentrated  by 
distillation  until  about  a  fluidounce  of  the  liquid  remained  behind,  which 
was  carefully  evaporated  and  yielded  a  soft  extract,  similar  to  the  former 
in  taste  and  color.  This  was  again  dissolved  in  strong  alcohol,  mixed 
with  ether  until  slightly  turbid,  and  the  filtrate  left  to  spontaneously 
evaporate,  yielding  again  an  extract-like  mass. 
The  residue  of  the  original  aqueous  extract  left  after  treatment  with 
alcohol  and  ether  was  now  treated  with  strong  alcohol ;  the  filtrate 
being  very  dark  colored,  bitter  and  of  an  acid  reaction,  was  concen- 
trated by  distillation  and  then  evaporated  spontaneously,  yielding  an 
extract  similar  to  the  preceding  portion,  to  which  it  was  added,  and 
treated  with  a  mixture  of  equal  bulks  of  alcohol  and  ether.  A  red- 
dish syrup  subsided,  having  a  very  sweet  taste,  and  proving  to  be  a 
solution  of  sugar.  The  lighter  liquid  was  decanted  into  an  evaporating 
dish,  and  after  spontaneously  evaporating  yielded  a  dark  bitterish 
extract,  lacking  sweetness  to  taste. 
