CHEMICAL HISTORY OF THE GRATIOLA. 283 
easily reduced to powder. When hydrated ether is added 
to this, it softens, and is partly dissolved ; while the portion 
that remains undissolved collects at the bottom of the vessel 
in the form of a syrup ; this liquid separated from the layer 
of ether that floats over it, and dissolved in alcohol remains 
unclouded, and, if after thus having been mixed with the 
alcohol, it is left in the open air, we obtain, when the liquid 
has evaporated, a white mass, in which you may perceive 
a number of minute globules, resembling papilae. This sub- 
stance, in my opinion, bears the same relation to the gra- 
tiola, as the digitaline does to the digitalis, and I think I 
am authorized in proposing for it the name gratioline, or, 
better still, gratiolin, to show that the substance is not an 
alkaloid, for the termination ine ought, in my opinion, to be 
reserved exclusively for that class of bodies. 
Whatever may be the fate of this proposition, I shall no 
longer dwell upon it, but continue the enumeration of the 
characters this new principle presents. 
It appears under the form of a white mass, made up of 
minute grains ; it is to a very small extent soluble in water, 
to which it, nevertheless, imparts a very bitter taste, which, 
as in the case of digitaline, is particularly sensible at the 
back of the mouth ; a small quantity of alcohol renders it 
rather more soluble in this liquid ; alcohol dissolves it easily, 
and the liquid becomes milky when mixed with water ; it 
is, to a certain extent, soluble in ether. 
Placed in water, and submitted to the action of heat, 
until the water boils, it softens and collects on the surface 
under the form of a small oily drop. 
Placed in a capsule of platinum, and heated in an open 
fire, it softens, swells, melts, becomes colored, is inflamed, 
burns with smoke, and at last leaves a residuum of black 
charcoal, which disappears by continuing the calcination. 
But I must still observe that, after this calcination, a small 
quantity of white ashes remain. 
Sulphuric acid turns gratiolin yellow, and, while dissolv- 
