2 
JEFFERSONXA  DIPHYLLA. 
tracted  to  this  article  for  some  time  past,  by  many  encomiums  I 
have  heard  upon  it  by*physicians  of  the  Eclectic  school,  as  an  ex- 
pectorant and  tonic,  possessing  properties  similar  to  those  of 
senega,  which  article  has  become  so  scarce  of  late  in  our  market, 
and  consequently  high  in  price,  I  have  been  induced,  with  the  view 
of  substituting  for  it,  or  bringing  into  notice  and  use,  an  article  of 
similar  medicinal  properties,  which  can  be  obtained  plentifully, 
at  a  much  less  price,  to  make  an  examination  of  the  chemical  con- 
stituents of  this  plant,  by  means  of  a  proximate  analysis. 
Chemical  Examination. — One  thousand  grains  of  the  root 
in  coarse  M  powder  was  macerated  with  water  for  twelve 
hours;  then  placed  in  a  percolator,  and  half  a  pint  of  liquid  ob- 
tained ;  it  was  of  a  dark  sherry  color,  slightly  bitter  and 
acid  to  the  taste,  (but  not  as  acrid  or  irritating  as  the  root  when 
chewed.)  The  presence  of  albumen  in  this  infusion  was  indicated 
by  its  coagulating  upon  being  heated,  and  yielding  precipitates 
upon  the  addition  of  a  solution  of  tannic  acid  and  corrosive  subli- 
mate. 
Tannin. — Solutions  of  tartar  emetic  and  gelatin  produced  no 
change  in  the  infusion.  Sesqui  salts  of  iron  produced  a  marked 
difference  in  it,  changed  the  solution  to  a  dark  olive  green  color, 
unchanged  by  heating  it,  and  in  the  course  of  a  short  time  gave  a 
precipitate  of  an  olive  green  color,  indicating  that  the  color  pro- 
duced by  the  addition  of  the  sesqui  salts  of  iron  was  not  owing  to 
the  presence  of  gallic  acid,  but  to  the  presence  of  a  modified  tan- 
nic acid,  which  strikes  a  green  color  with  iron. 
Gum. — A  portion  of  the  infusion  freed  from  tannic  and  coloring 
matter  by  neutral  acetate  of  lead,  gave,  upon  the  addition  of  basic 
acetate  of  lead,  a  precipitate  of  gummy  matter. 
Starch. — A  portion  of  the  dregs  left  in  the  percolator,  was 
boiled  with  water,  to  the  filtered  liquid  tincture  of  iodine  was 
added,  which  struck  the  deep  blue  color,  characteristic  of  the  pre- 
sence of  starch. 
Pectin. — The  remaining  portion  of  the  dregs  left  was  heated 
for  some  time  with  a  dilute  solution  of  carb.  soda,  the  liquid  fil- 
tered off,  which  upon  the  addition  of  chlorohydric  acid  produced  a 
gelatinous  precipitate,  pectic  acid. 
Fatty  Resin, — Five  hundred  grains  of  the  root  in  coarse  powder 
