^™sSt.';'i888™'}     Grindelia  Robusta  and  Grindelia  Squarrosa.  437 
gave  a  slight  reaction  for  a  glucoside  with  Fehling's  solution,  being 
the  same  glucoside  that  was  extracted  more  freely  by  alcohol  and 
water. 
III.  Treatment  with  Alcohol. 
The  drugs,  freed  from  ether,  were  exhausted  with  successive  portions 
of  absolute  alcohol.  Extracted  from  G.  robusta  2*04  per  cent,  and  G. 
squarrosa  2*67  per  cent.  The  dried  residue  was  of  a  resinous  or  extract- 
like appearance,  of  a  brown  color,  and  acrid  taste.  Its  aqueous  solu- 
tion was  colored  greenish  black  by  ferric  chloride,  foamed  on  agitation, 
had  an  acid  reaction  and  was  precipitated  by  acetate  of  lead.  The  acidi- 
fied aqueous  solution  gave  marked  alkaloidal  reactions  with  the  follow- 
ing reagents :  potassio-mercuric  iodide,  tri-iodide  of  potassium,  phos- 
phomolybdic  acid,  tannin,  potassio -bismuth ic  iodide,  and  picric  acid. 
From  this  evidence  it  was  assumed  that  an  alkaloid  was  pres- 
ent. The  acidified  aqueous  solution  was  agitated  successively  with 
the  solvents  previously  used  ;  then  the  solution  rendered  alkaline 
and  again  treated  with  solvents.  A  slight  residue  was  obtained 
with  each  solvent — largest  with  chloroform — of  a  yellow  color, 
soft  and  sticky,  and  of  a  burning,  very  acrid  taste,  especially 
affecting  the  palate.  An  aqueous  solution  of  these  residues  was  of 
neutral  reaction  :  on  adding  the  smallest  portion  of  acid  it  was 
rendered  permanently  acid,  and  with  the  reagents  did  not  give  as 
heavy  alkaloidal  reactions  as  did  the  liquid  which  had  been  agitated 
with  the  solvents.  No  different  results  were  obtained  on  testing  a 
solution  of  the  residues  in  acidulated  water.  One  pound  of  each  drug 
was  then  exhausted  with  strong  alcohol,  the  alcohol  evaporated,  and 
the  syrupy  extract  poured  into  water  acidulated  with  one  per  cent,  of 
sulphuric  acid.  After  standing  for  twelve  hours,  with  frequent 
stirring,  the  liquor  was  decanted,  filtered,  and  agitated  with  solvents 
as  before,  both  in  acid  and  alkaline  condition.  The  results  were  the 
same  as  those  of  the  previous  trial.  Five  pounds  of  G.  robusta  were 
then  exhausted  with  alcohol  and  given  the  same  treatment,  also 
adding  to  the  list  of  solvents  acetic  ether,  carbon  disulphide  and  fusel 
oil.  No  alkaloid  was  obtained.  A  portion  of  the  solution  was 
neutralized,  evaporated  to  dryness  and  the  residue  agitated  with  sol- 
vents, with  still  a  negative  result.  Extraction  from  the  drug  by  Prol- 
lius'  fluid  was  tried,  also  without  success.  The  methods  used  would 
undoubtedly  have  extracted  an  alkaloid  had  one  been  present,  so  it 
