AN  ESSAY  ON  SASSAFRAS  OFFICINALE. 
489 
CHEMICAL  HISTORY  OF  SASSAFRAS. 
The  leaves  contain,  principally,  mucilage,  green  coloring  mat- 
ter, tannic  acid  and  ligneous  matter.  By  maceration  in  water 
this  liquid  becomes  thick  and  ropy  in  consistence.  The  solu- 
tion is  precipitated  by  subacetate  of  lead,  but  not  by  alcohol, 
which  mixes  with  it,  forming  a  transparent  mixture  of  syrupy 
consistence,  a  quality  noticed  in  the  mucilage  of  the  pith. 
The  fruit  in  its  ripe  state  has  not  been  examined,  because  it 
has  not  been  obtainable  since  being  engaged  with  the  subject.  In 
its  green  state  the  drupe  causes  an  acrid  (almost  caustic)  im- 
pression in  the  throat  when  chewed  and  swallowed.  It  has  not 
the  odor  of  the  bark,  though  somewhat  aromatic.  Macerated  in 
alcohol  after  bruising  it,  a  greenish-brown  tincture  is  obtained. 
When  this  is  evaporated  spontaneously  until  most  of  the  alcohol 
is  dissipated,  an  oily  or  oleo-resinous  substance  separates  in 
globules,  which  appears  to  be  connected  with  the  acrimony,  but 
was  not  investigated  for  want  of  time. 
The  Barh  of  the  Root. — The  best  published  essay  on  the 
chemistry  of  sassafras  bark  is  that  of  Dr.  H.  Reinsh,  (Buch.  Rep., 
1846).  In  1000  parts  of  the  bark  he  found  90  of  water  ;  8  of 
light  and  heavy  volatile  oil  and  camphoraceous  matter ;  8  of 
tallow-like  matter;  50  of  balsamic  resin  and  wax  ;  92  of  sassa- 
frid  ;  58  of  tannic  acid ;  68  of  sassafrid  tannin  and  gum ;  6  of 
albumen ;  30  of  gum  red  coloring  matter  and  salts  ;  289  of 
starch  tannin,  as  taken  up  by  potash  solution;  and  247  of  woody 
fibre. 
M.  Beinsh  found  the  light  oil  to  pass  first,  and  then  the 
heavy.    The  former  he  thought  to  be  most  fragrant  of  sassafras. 
The  sassafrid  is  analogous  to  cinchonic  red.  It  separates 
from  the  alcoholic  tincture  when  it  is  poured  into  an  excess  of 
water,  as  a  cinchona-colored  precipitate  which  dries  in  a  granular 
form  like  indigo.  It  has  no  odor,  scarcely  any  taste,  yields 
oxalic  acid  and  other  products  by  the  action  of  NO5,  is  very 
slightly  soluble  in  cold  water,  more  so  if  tannin  is  present,  but 
readily  soluble  in  boiling  water.  Ether  dissolves  it  but  slightly  ; 
the  alkaline  solutions  dissolve  it  very  freely,  and  form  dark  red 
brown  liquids  ;  the  alkaline  earths  precipitate  it  in  combination. 
