'^'"^'Feb^'ifss^^"^" }       Analysis  of  Ricinus  Communis.  97 
volumes  of  alcohol  precipitated  dextrin  and  other  carbohydrates 
5*10  per  cent.,  estimated  by  boiling  with  dilute  acid,  and  treating 
with  Fehling's  solution.  Glucose  and  saccharose  were  determined 
in  the  filtrate  by  dividing  in  two  portions,  the  one  treated  directly 
with  Fehling^s  solution,  and  the  other  after  inversion  by  diluted 
acid,  and  ignition  of  the  cuprous  oxide  obtained.  The  glucose 
found  amounted  to  1'99  per  cent,  and  the  saccharose  0'39  per  cent.,, 
by  difference. 
The  residual  powder  insoluble  in  water  was  treated  with  a  0*2  per 
cent,  solution  of  caustic  soda.  On  evaporating  and  drying  a  part  of 
the  extract  the  residue  was  found  to  be  2*47  per  cent,  which,  on  igni- 
tion, left  1'27  per  cent,  of  inorganic  matter,  xlfter  acidifying  a  por- 
tion and  adding  3  volumes  of  alcohol,  the  albuminous  matter  precipi- 
tated, amounting  to  0'95  per  cent. 
The  residue  washed  free  from  alkali,  was  treated  with  a  1  per  cent, 
solution  of  HCl,  which  extracted  3*55  per  cent.,  which  on  incineration 
left  1*36  per  cent. ;  showing  by  difference  organic  compounds  amount- 
ing to  2-193  per  cent. 
The  residue,  washed  and  dried,  amounted  to  49*03  per  cent.  The 
ash  was  determined  in  a  few  grams  of  the  residue,  amounting  to  0*87 
per  cent.  After  treatment  with  chlorine  the  cellulose  was  washed, 
dried  and  weighed ;  the  loss  by  chlorine  was  5*44  percent.,  leaving 
43*59  per  cent,  of  cellulose. 
Stem. — The  stem  reduced  to  powder,  on  drying  at  120°  C.  indicated 
moisture  6*1  per  cent.,  and  the  same  portion  ignited,  ash  5*46  per 
cent.  The  petroleum  spirit  extract  was  0*275  per  cent.,  consisting  of 
wax  with  a  little  resin,  the  same  as  found  in  the  leaves.  Ether  ex- 
tracted 0*316  per  cent,  resin  identical  with  that  found  in  the 
leaves.  Alcohol  dissolved  0*83  per  cent.,  which  crystallized  on 
spontaneous  evaporation,  and  proved  to  be  ricinine  with  a  little  color- 
ing matter. 
Root. — The  root  dried,  then  ignited,  showed  moisture  7*08  per  cent., 
and  ash  7.05  per  cent.  Petroleum  spirit  extracted  0.38  per  cent,  of 
wax  similar  to  that  found  in  the  stem  and  leaves,  except  that  the 
melting  point  is  40°  C,  and  that  it  is  less  soluble  in  alcohol.  Ether 
dissolved  0*338  per  cent,  of  resinous  and  coloring  matter.  Alcohol 
separated  0*416  per  cent.,  the  extract  containing  crystals  of  ricinine,. 
thus  showing  that  this  principle,  as  well  as  the  wax,  exists  in  all  parts 
of  the  plant. 
