OBSERVATIONS ON PODOPHYLLUM PELTATTJM. 169 
of the liquid which had all the appearance of an oil after 
being treated in that manner. When burnt it exhales the 
disagreeable odour of burning fat, and leaves a slight resi- 
due scarcely perceptible. This oil resembles that obtained 
by the alcoholic treatment in all its properties ; it is soluble 
in hot alcohol and in cold ether. 
Volatile Oil. — One pound of the fresh root was mace- 
rated in a sufficient quantity of water to cover it, for twenty- 
four hours, and distilled. The product was opaque, pos- 
sessed the odour of the root, and had a mild nauseous taste. 
Twenty ounces of the dried root was macerated in the water 
obtained in the previous process for two days, and again 
distilled ; the product had the same appearance and odour, 
but it was much stronger than that procured by the former 
distillation. It was kept in a closely stopped bottle for five 
months without the least apparent change in its character, 
except that it became more floculent, and separated in very 
light opaque scales. It was neutral to test paper. 
A peculiar Resinous Principle. — A portion of the coarse- 
ly powdered root was macerated twenty-four hours in alco- 
hol of 35 9 Baume, then heated to the boiling point, and 
when cool was displaced. A transparent liquor of a beau- 
tiful wine colour was obtained, and evaporated in a water 
bath to the consistence of a thick extract, having a brown 
colour. This was treated with sulphuric ether of 55° Baume, 
yielding all the fixed oil to it, and a large portion of the 
extract. The ethereal solution was of a light brown colour, 
and had a bitter taste, leaving when evaporated an oily and 
a resinous substance, like that already described. That 
portion of the extract not dissolved by the ether was boiled 
in distilled water, which dissolved a small part of it. The 
solution was of a dark brown colour, had a disagreeable 
and slightly bitter taste ; the undissolved part having much 
the appearance of hsepatic aloes, was dissolved in alcohol 
of 42° Baume, treated with pure animal charcoal, and the 
