394  Chemical  Investigation  of  Mac  alio  Bark.  { ^a^'iST"" 
uble  in  alcohol,  ether  and  water,  and  sparingly  soluble  in  amylic  alcohol 
and  chloroform.  The  crystals  were,  therefore,  the  sulphate  of  art 
alkaloid,  named  macallina} 
The  precipitate  obtained  with  milk  of  lime  was  well  washed,  dried 
and  treated  with  alcohol.  On  evaporating  the  filtrate  to  a  syrupy  con- 
sistence, 3  grams  of  fine  colorless  needles  were  obtained,  which  had  a 
strongly  saline  taste,  were  freely  soluble  in  water  and  neutral  to  litmus; 
paper.  The  solution  treated  with  weak  potassa,  yielded  1*34  grams  of  a 
yellowish-white  precipitate  which  was  amorphous,  had  a  bitter  taste  and 
was  insoluble  in  water,  alcohol  and  ether,  sparingly  soluble  in  amylic 
alcohol,  and  somewhat  more  soluble  in  chloroform.  The  name  yabina 
is  proposed  for  this  alkaloid. 
The  residue  from  the  treatment  with  alcohol  was'treated  with  ether 
and  other  solvents.  0*50  gram  of  a  greenish,  tasteless,  resinous  sub- 
stance, a  humin-like  compound  and  coloring  matter  were  obtained. 
In  the  same  number  of  "  La  Emulacion,"  a  paper  by  Dr.  Desideria 
G.  Rosada,  originally  published  in  1868,  is  reproduced,  according  to 
which  macallo  bark  possesses  antiperiodic,  purgative  and  vermifuge 
properties.  The  principle  to  which  the  purgative  and  vermifuge  prop- 
erties are  due  appears  to  be  a  resin  or  an  alkaloid,  since  it  is  soluble  in 
strong  alcohol  but  not  in  water.  The  undissolved  portion  is  neither  pur- 
gative nor  anthelmintic,  but  has  been  found  useful  in  intermittent  fevers. 
The  extract  of  the  bark  evidently  contains  considerable  tannin,  which 
accounts  for  its  beneficial  effects  in  chronic  diarrhoea  when  given  in 
small  doses,  but  in  large  doses  it  is  an  effectual  purgative. 
On  adding  ammonia  to  an  infusion  of  the  bark  a  precipitate  of  an 
impure  aikaloid  is  obtained,  which,  given  in  doses  of  two  grains  within 
twenty-four  hours,  has  cured  intermittent  fevers. 
Exposure  to  the  vapors  given  ofF  in  preparing  the  extract  produced  a 
feeling  of  suffocation  and  a  painful  inflammation  of  the  eyes. 
The  tincture  of  the  flowers  appears  to  be  useful  in  spasms.  After 
grinding  the  almond-like  kernel  of  the  fruit,  washing  it  until  the  bitter 
and  astringent  taste  has  been  removed,  and  mixing  it  with  a  small  quan- 
tity of  maize  or  wheat  flour,  a  very  good  bread  may  be  obtained. 
The  wood  and  bark  are  used  for  various  purposes  in  the  arts. 
1  The  circumstances  under  which  the  salt  was  obtained  and  its  behavior  to  solvents, 
etc.,  seem  to  indicate  that  it  was  largely  composed  of  calcium  sulphate. — Editor. 
Am.  Jour.  Phar. 
