Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
Aug.,  1880. 
Er iodic ty on  Caufornicum. 
405. 
to  test  paper.  On  boiling  the  alcoholic  extract  with  water  and  allow- 
ing the  liquid  to  cool  a  crystalline  substance  of  a  yellowish-white 
color  and  of  a  feathery  appearance  deposited,  destitute  of  taste  and 
odor,  insoluble  in  cold  water  and  benzin,  sparingly  soluble  in  hot 
water  (the  solution  having  a  slight  acid  reaction),  very  soluble  in  chlo- 
roform, ether  and  alcohol. 
No  alkaloids  could  be  detected  in  the  aqueous  decoction. 
The  remainder  of  the  aqueous  decoction  was  then  treated  with  a  solu- 
tion of  acetate  of  lead,  as  long  as  a  precipitate  was  thereby  produced,  then 
filtered.  The  precipitate,  having  previously  been  thoroughly  washed 
with  cold  water,  was  then  diffused  through  alcohol  and  decomposed  by 
means  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  filtered,  and  the  filtrate  evaporated  to 
dryness  at  a  low  temperature.  The  residue  was  a  brittle  substance  of 
a  light  brown  color,  having  an  astringent,  sour  taste,  proven  to  be 
tannin,  the  alcoholic  solution  of  the  tannin  being  perfectly  clear,  while 
that  of  the  aqueous  solution  was  turbid,  and  on  the  addition  of  ammo- 
nia or  potassic  hydrate  turned  to  a  dark  brown  color  and  became  per- 
fectly clear.  The  tannin  gives  a  green  precipitate  with  chloride  of 
iron,  acquiring  a  dirty  appearance  on  standing. 
2.  Previously  having  treated  the  leaves  with  alcohol  they  were  then 
percolated  with  water.  The  percolate  was  of  a  dark  brown  color,  bit- 
terish, astringent  taste  and  having  a  slight  acid  reaction.  After  con- 
centrating the  percolate  a  part  of  it  was  treated  with  absolute  alcohol, 
producing  a  precipitate  of  a  dark  brown  color,  wholly  soluble  in  water, 
and  proven  to  be  gum  associated  with  brown  coloring  matter.  The 
presence  of  sugar  was  detected  by  means  of  Trommer's  test. 
No  alkaloids  could  be  detected.  A  portion  of  the  percolate  was  then 
treated  with  a  solution  of  acetate  of  lead  as  long  as  a  precipitate  was 
thereby  formed.  The  precipitate,  collected  on  a  filter  and  thoroughly 
washed  with  water,  was  then  diff'used  through  alcohol  and  decomposed 
by  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  filtered  and  the  filtrate  slowly  evaporated  to 
dryness  by  means  of  gentle  heat.  The  product  obtained  was  tannin, 
similar  in  appearance  and  corresponding  in  all  its  reactions  to  that 
obtained  from  the  alcoholic  percolate. 
3.  A  fresh  quantity  of  leaves  was  exhausted  by  ether. 
The  ethereal  percolate  was  allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneously  to 
the  consistence  of  syrup. 
On  boilmg  this  with  water  a  resinous  mass  was  precipitated.  The 
supernatant  liquid  was  of  a  pale  straw  color,  slight  aromatic  taste  and 
