548  Analysis  of  Eriodictyon  Calif  or  nicurn.  {Amhl™'J%™~ 
behavior  to  other  reagents  proves  it  to  be  a  glucoside  of  the  tannic  acid 
series,  of  decided  peculiaritites,  closely  allied,  if  not  identical,  with  that 
found  by  the  writer  existing  in  Pycnanthemum  linifolium  and  perhaps 
to  exist  in  Ballota  vulgaris  and  Leonurus  cardiaca  [Rochleder), 
To  obtain  the  acid  in  sufficient  quantity,  so  as  to  be  able  to  study  its 
properties  more  closely,  and  particularly  to  satisfy  myself  that  it  is  not 
associated  with  any  other  solid  organic  or  volatile  acids,  such  as  ben- 
zoic or  cinnamic  acid,  a  fresh  quantity  of  dried  herb  was  extracted  by 
alcohol  of  75  per  cent.  The  alcoholic  extract,  freed  from  resin  by 
addition  of  water,  was  treated  with  plumbic  acetate,  the  precipitate  dis- 
solved in  acetic  acid,  reprecipitated  by  ammonia,  decomposed  by  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  under  absolute  alcohol.  The  acid  as  obtained,, 
tightly  enclosed  between  two  well  fitting  watch  glasses,  was  exposed  ta 
a  temperature  of  220°  to  24o°C.  for  some  time.  As  no  sublimation 
took  place,  the  absence  of  all  solid  volatile  acids  of  the  aromatic  series- 
was  proven. 
3.  Treatment  of  the  Herb  with  Water. — The  aqueous  percolate  of  the 
herb  previously  exhausted  by  ether  and  alcohol  successively  was  of  a 
brown  color,  showed  acid  reaction,  and  possessed  an  astringent,  bitterish 
taste.  The  examination  was  conducted  the  same  as  in  the  case  with  the 
liquid  under  No.  2  ;  the  same  tannic  acid  was  alone  found.  A  portion  of 
the  percolate  concentrated  by  evaporation  gave  on  addition  of  absolute 
alcohol,  a  copious  precipitate  readily  soluble  in  water,  and  proved  to  be 
gum  associated  with  a  brown  inert  matter  ;  sugar  in  small  quantities 
was  detected.    No  alkaloids  or  nitrogenous  body  could  be  detected. 
Ten  pounds  of  the  leaves  subjected  to  distillation  with  water  yielded 
a  distillate  containing  very  small  quantities  of  a  volatile  oil,  adhering  to 
the  sides  of  the  receiver  and  forming  a  very  thin  layer  upon  its  surface, 
too  minute  to  allow  of  a  separation  and  subsequent  nearer  investigation. 
It  imparts  to  the  distilled  water  an  aromatic  odor  and  taste  but  slightly 
resembling  that  of  the  dried  plant.  Tested  immediately  after  distilla- 
tion, it  was  found  entirely  neutral  towards  test-papers,  and  not  the 
slightest  reaction  was  obtained  with  any  of  the  alkaloid  tests,  so  that  it 
may  be  safely  asserted  that  the  plant  does  not  contain  any  volatile 
alkaloid. 
By  these  results  it  was  asceitained  that  Eriodictyon  californicum 
contains 
