ON  CAPSICUM  ANNUUM. 
299 
give,  with  acetate  of  lead  a  slight  precipitate  5  with  subacetate 
of  lead,  a  very  copious  one  ;  nitrate  of  mercury  also  produced  a 
precipitate,  and  a  solution  of  sesquichloride  of  iron  was  found  to 
coagulate  it ;  indicating  the  presence  of  a  peculiar  gum,  precipi- 
table  by  neutral  acetate  of  lead  and  not  by  alcohol.  A  portion 
of  the  dregs  was  boiled  with  water,  and  the  filtered  solution  on 
cooling  gave  a  blue  color  with  a  solution  of  iodine,  showing  the 
presence  of  starch. 
A  fresh  portion  of  capsicum  was  mixed  with  some  water  and 
subjected  to  distillation.  The  distillate  had  but  a  slight  taste  of 
capsicum,  and  a  disagreeable  and  empyreumatic  odor,  entirely 
different  from  that  of  the  fruit ;  thus  showing  that  capsicum 
does  not  contain  any  volatile  oil  proper.  The  two  acrid  oils 
were  next  distilled  separately  with  some  water  ;  the  distillates 
had  but  a  slight  taste,  and  an  odor  recalling  that  of  the  distilled 
water  of  capsicum,  though  not  as  strong.  From  this,  it  appears 
that  the  odorous  principle  of  capsicum  cannot  be  obtained  by 
distillation,  and  that  it  resides  in  its  active  principles. 
Analysis  of  the  ashes. — Some  capsicum  was  next  ignited,  and 
the  resulting  ashes  repeatedly  washed  with  boiling  water.  To 
a  portion  of  the  filtered  solution  was  added  a  solution  of  tartaric 
acid  in  excess,  when  an  abundant  precipitate  was  formed,  which 
was  entirely  soluble  in  boiling  water,  from  which  it  separated 
on  cooling  in  crystalline  plates. 
Another  portion  was  evaporated  to  dryness,  and  then  mixed 
with  a  little  alcohol  and  ignited ;  this  gave  a  violet  tint  to  the 
flame,  thus  indicating  the  presence  of  potassa. 
To  another  portion  of  the  solution  was  added  a  solution  of 
oxalic  acid  and  a  few  drops  of  solution  of  ammonia ;  this  pro- 
duced a  decided  opacity  in  the  liquid,  which  was  not  affected  by 
acetic  acid,  though  readily  dispelled  by  nitric  acid,  showing  the 
presence  of  a  small  portion  of  lime. 
To  another  portion  was  added  some  solution  of  nitrate  of 
silver  ;  this  produced  an  abundant  precipitate  of  a  yellowish 
white  color,  entirely  soluble  in  solution  of  ammonia,  but  partially 
only  in  nitric  acid,  thus  indicating  the  presence  of  phosphoric 
acid  and  chlorine. 
To  another  portion  was  added  some  solution  of  chloride  of 
barium ;  this  produced  a  copious  white  precipitate,  which  was 
