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302  ON  PODOPHYLLUM 
tion  of  the  root  of  the  mandrake  have  proved  that  it  contains 
vegetable  albumen,  gum,  gallic  acid,  starch,  a  fixed  and  a  vola- 
tile oil,  and  two  resins ;  one  soluble  in  both  alcohol  and  ether, 
the  other  in  the  former  only. 
Among  these  several  constituents,  the  two  resins  alone  appear 
to  possess  any  purgative  power,  and  whether  to  both  of  these, 
or  to  but  one,  the  peculiar  active  principle  should  be  ascribed, 
has  not,  as  yet,  been  determined. 
To  isolate  these  resins,  to  ascertain  this  fact,  the  so-called 
podophyllin  was  treated  ;  since  it  is  tnown  to  contain  them,  asso- 
ciated with  some  coloring  matter. 
This  podophyllin  represents  the  root  in  a  very  concentrated  - 
form,  producing  the  cathartic  effect  to  a  degree  not  to  be  sur- 
passed by  any  other  preparation  which  can  be  made  from  it. 
To  prepare  it,  a  portion  of  the  finely  bruised  root  was  ex- 
hausted of  its  bitterness  by  alcohol,  of  the  specific  gravity  of 
.835  :  the  tincture  thus  obtained  was  evaporated,  by  means  of  a 
water  bath,  to  the  consistence  of  a  very  thin  syrup,  and  while 
hot,  added  to  about  three  times  its  bulk  of  water,  with  constant 
agitation,  till  the  whole  appeared  to  be  precipitated.  By  stand- 
ing, this  was  deposited  in  the  form  of  a  yellowish  powder,  and 
being  separated  by  means  of  a  linen  filter,  was  thoroughly  washed 
upon  it,  and  placed  upon  bibulous  paper  and  dried,  at  a  tempera- 
ture of  about  90°  F. 
The  product  as  thus  obtained,  resembled  the  commercial  arti- 
cle in  all  respects,  except,  perhaps,  a  slight  difference  in  color ; 
it  being  rendered  dark,  if  a  higher  heat  than  that  named  be 
employed.  It  is  freely  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  partially  so  in 
ether,  the  latter  menstruum  taking  up  by  far  the  greater 
amount,  as  one  hundred  grains  yielded  by  treatment  with  it 
seventy-seven  grains  of  soluble  matter.  A  solution  is  effected 
in  water,  by  means  of  a  caustic  alkali,  from  which,  however,  it 
is  precipitable  by  the  addition  of  an  acid  :  even  a  weak  one  will 
answer  the  purpose. 
If  a  very  dilute  solution  of  the  alkalies  be  employed,  it  is  not 
rendered  soluble  ;  it  appears  to  form  a  saponaceous  compound 
with  one  portion,  a  residue  remaining  undissolved.  Water  alone, 
either  hot  or  cold,  did  not  dissolve  any,  nor  do  the  dilute  acids 
or  oil  of  turpentine  hold  it  in  solution. 
