OBSERVATIONS ON PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM. 171 
rated, washed with distilled water, dissolved in alcohol of 
42° Baume, and left to evaporate. It was now in a very 
pure state, and analogous in its character to that obtained 
in the preceding experiment. Its alcoholic solution was 
bitter and caused a raw scratching sensation in the throat ; 
it is dissolved and decomposed by nitric acid, producing a 
beautiful light burnt umber colour, approaching to a purple ; 
and by sulphuric acid, to which it imparts a rich olive 
colour with a purple shade around undissolved portions. It 
is very soluble in hot diluted alcohol. Ten ounces of the 
dried root was treated according to the process of Mr. Wm. 
Hodgson, Jr., viz., by boiling it in water with lime, precipi- 
tating the clear liquid with sulphate of zinc, evaporating 
the filtered liquid to dryness, treating the residue with cold 
alcohol of 42° Baume, and animal charcoal, and allowing 
it to evaporate spontaneously. The substance thus obtained 
was in the form of a gelatinous mass, resembling that de- 
scribed in the preceding operations, except that it was more 
soluble in hot water, apparently being converted into a 
hydrate by the lime treatment. Six grains of this mass 
was taken without any apparent effect, owing perhaps to 
its containing a large amount of water and impurities. 
Ashes of the Root. — A portion of the root was incine- 
rated, the product which weighed twenty-two grains was 
lixiviated with water, which dissolved out four and a half 
grains of solid matter. The liquid was reduced by evapo- 
ration, and a solution of tartaric acid was added, which 
caused a liberation of carbonic acid. 
In a few minutes after the effervescence had ceased, a 
large quantity of shining crystals were precipitated, which 
had the characteristics of bitartrate of potassa. 
Nitric acid in excess was added to a portion of the lixivi- 
ated liquid, which caused carbonic acid to be given off, and 
on the addition of nitrate of silver a white precipitate was 
thrown down of chloride of silver. 
