484 
Sium  Latifolium. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm- 
\      Nov.,  1876. 
The  root  being  considered  the  most  active  part  of  the  plant,  it  was 
deemed  proper  to  subject  that  part  to  a  chemical  examination. 
A  portion  of  the  root,  cut  up  fine,  was  introduced  into  boiling  water,, 
contained  in  a  retort,  and  a  volatile  oil  obtained,  which  had  a  light- 
straw  color,  neutral  reaction  and  possessed  a  pungent  odor,  resembling 
somewhat  the  peculiar  odor  of  carrots.  A  cold  infusion  of  the  fresh 
root,  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and  filtered,  to  separate  a  pre- 
cipitate, failed  to  give  a  precipitate  with  iodohydrargyrate  of  potassium  ; 
but  when  distilled  with  an  excess  of  potassa  solution,  a  perfectly  clear 
and  colorless  distillate  was  obtained,  possessing  a  strong  alkaline  reac- 
tion and  a  peculiar  mouse-like  odor,  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  con- 
ium  ;  after  neutralization  with  hydrochloric  acid,  however,  not  the 
slightest  precipitate  was  accasioned  by  phosphomolybdic  acid,  iodo- 
hydrargyrate of  potassium  or  potassium  cadmic  iodide. 
The  neutralized  distillate  was  next  concentrated  on  a  water-bath,, 
and  then  allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneously  over  sulphuric  acid,  which 
resulted  in  the  deposition  of  long,  slender,  colorless  needle-shaped 
crystals.  On  the  addition  of  milk  of  lime  a  peculiar  alkaline  volatile 
principle  was  instantly  liberated  from  its  combination,  and  distinctly 
recognized  by  its  disagreeable  mouse  like  odor,  and  the  property  of 
restoring  the  blue  color  to  reddened  litmus. 
Following  Wittstein's  process  for  preparing  pastinacina,  the  alkaline 
distillate  was  freed  from  the  volatile  oil,  neutralized  with  sulphuric 
acid,  evaporated  and  treated  with  etherized  alcohol  to  remove  ammo- 
nium sulphate,  the  filtrate  evaporated  to  a  syrupy  consistency  and  dis- 
tilled with  solution  of  potassa,  gave  a  distillate  which  possessed  an 
alkaline  reaction,  a  urinous  odor  and  a  pungent  taste.  After  neutral- 
izing with  sulphuric  acid,  needle-shaped  crystals  were  obtained.  This 
alkaloid  appears  to  be  analogous  to  pastinacina.1 
A  spirituous  tincture  of  the  root  was  mixed  with  water,  and  the 
alcohol  and  volatile  oil  distilled  off ;  the  dark  reddish-brown  resin  re- 
moved from  the  aqueous  liquid  was  soluble  in  ether  and  alcohol,  and 
produced  in  the  throat  an  unpleasant,  burning  sensation.  Weak  am- 
monia dissolved  from  this  two  acid  resins^  which  were  precipitated,  the 
one  by  acetate,  the  other  by  subacetate  of  lead.  The  portion  insoluble 
in  ammonia  consisted  in  part  of  an  indifferent  resin.    It  was  dissolved 
1  Wittstein's  pastinacina  has  an  insignificant  (unbedeutend)  and  scarcely  some- 
what acrid  (scharf )  taste.    See  "  Buchn.  Repertorium,"  vol.  68,  p.  18. — Editor. 
