170 OBSERVATIONS ON PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM. 
liquid allowed to evaporate spontaneously. In this state it 
had but' little colour, and was in form analogous to tannin. 
To purify it still further it was washed in cold distilled 
water. It is soluble in a solution of caustic potassa and 
aqua ammonia, from which it may be precipitated by the 
addition of an acid, very soluble in alcohol, less soluble in 
carbonate of potassa and carbonate of soda, and insoluble 
in water. A solution of it in alcohol has the same bitter 
taste as the substance resembling hsepatic aloes. Under pe- 
culiar circumstances, the cause of which I have not yet been 
able to find out, it assumes a hydrated form. Eight grains 
of the dark brown resin left after treatment with ether and 
water is sufficient for a strong purge ; it is a hydrogogue 
cathartic operating with griping, and producing a nauseat- 
ing effect. Six grains of the resin still purer, operated as a 
drastic cathartic ; it also occasioned vomiting and great de- 
bility. In the pure and colourless state it is amorphous, 
By one operation it was obtained in opaque feathery scales, 
by another in a light colorless powder, another in a translu- 
cent gelatinized mass, and often in globules like dried gela- 
tin. Repeated efforts were made to crystallize it, but without 
success. 
Four ounces of the root in coarse powder was boiled a 
few minutes in a mixture of alcohol and water in the pro- 
portion of one of the former and two and a half of the latter ; 
when cold it was displaced. The liquor was of a reddish 
brown colour and yielded on evaporation by water bath 
twenty-four per cent of dry brown colored deliquescent 
extract, which was reduced to powder, treated with alcohol 
of 42° Baume, boiled with purified animal charcoal, filtered, 
and allowed to evaporate spontaneously. The residue was 
of a very light brownish colour, had the appearance of a 
resin, and was redissolved in alcohol of 42 Q Baume, and 
precipitated by water, which operation left a large portion 
of coloring matter in solution. The precipitate was sepa- 
