OBSERVATIONS  ON  SOME  PRODUCTIONS  OF  MEXICO.  497 
separated  by  a  filter  ;  the  filtrate,  still  of  a  red  color,  was  slightly 
heated  to  dispel  the  excess  of  ammonia  and  precipitated  by  acetate 
of  lead.  This  precipitate  was  washed,  suspended  in  water 
and  decomposed  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen.  The  filtrate,  heated 
and  filtered,  had  a  slightly  yellowish  color,  and  on  careful  evapo- 
ration afforded  a  thick  syrupy  liquid  of  deep  red  color  and  sharp 
acid  taste,  reddening  litmus  paper,  very  soluble  in  water,  partially 
in  alcohol  but  insoluble  in  ether  and  chloroform.  Treatment  by 
alcohol  and  evaporation  separated  some  extraneous  matter,  but 
the  result  contained  no  crystals. 
A  second  experiment  was  made  with  four  ounces  of  the  root 
in  coarse  powder,  which  was  exhausted  by  displacement  with 
cold  water.  The  infusion  was  treated  by  ammonia,  acetate  of 
lead  and  hydrosulphuric  acid,  as  before,  and  on  evaporation  a 
similar  red  acid  liquid  was  obtained,  from  which  small  acicular 
crystals  deposited  on  cooling.  These  were  separated,  purified 
by  alcohol  and  animal  charcoal,  and  were  re-obtained  in  nearly 
colorless  fasciculate  crystals.  After  purification  only  two  grains 
were  obtained.  (1.)  This  substance  had  an  acid  reaction,  was 
soft  under  the  teeth  and  almost  tasteless.  (2.)  Moderately 
heated  on  platinum  foil  it  fused  with  effervescence,  formed  a  red 
liquid,  was  inflamed  and  left  a  black  residue  dissipated  by  further 
heat.  (3.)  It  was  decomposed  with  orange  fumes  by  weak  nitric 
acid.  (4.)  Also  by  fuming  nitric  acid.  (5.)  The  crystals  dissolve 
in  strong  sulphuric  acid  without  apparent  change,  but  on  adding 
a  drop  of  nitric  acid  it  changes  to  yellow  with  a  pink  edge,  which 
is  evanescent.  (6.)  Their  aqueous  solution  was  precipitated  black 
by  nitrate  of  silver.  Several  of  these  reactions  are  given  by 
Lowig  as  characteristic  of  Chelidonic  acid,  but  other  characters 
do  not  agree  with  that  substance.  As  by  far  the  larger  portion 
of  the  acid  matter  is  not  crystallizable,  the  author  believes  it  to 
be  a  liquid  non-volatile  acid  which  he  calls  Sanguinarinic  acid. 
Further  experiments  are  needed  to  determine  its  true  charac- 
ter. 
OBSERVATIONS  ON  SOME  PRODUCTIONS  OF  MEXICO, 
By  M.  Guibourt. 
[The  author  devotes  twelve  pages  in  the  August  number  of 
