JEFFERSONIA  DIPHYLLA. 
3 
was  digested  with  ether  for  some  time,  and  then  placed  in  a  per- 
colator, and  about  eight  ounces  of  tincture  obtained ;  it  was  of  a 
dark  green  color,  of  a  disagreeable  astringent  taste,  and  left  a  per- 
manent greasy  stain  on  paper.  A  portion  of  it  was  soluble  in  water, 
the  solution  gave,  with  sesqui  salts  of  iron,  an  olive  green  color 
and  precipitate,  indicating  the  presence  of  tannin. 
One  thousand  grains  of  the  root  in  coarse  powder  was  digested  in 
water  for  twelve  hours,  and  then  placed  in  a  percolater,  and  water 
added  until  thirty  two  ounces  of  infusion  was  obtained;  the  infusion 
was  of  a  pale  brown  color,  possessing  the  odor  of  the  root,  and  a 
peculiar  acrid  taste.  Neutral  acetate  of  lead  was  added  as 
long  as  it  produced  a  precipitate,  and  afterwards  sub-acetate  of 
lead.  The  excess  of  lead  being  carefully  removed  by  the  cautious 
addition  of  sulphuric  acid,  the  sulphate  of  lead  was  filtered  out  of 
the  infusion.  The  liquid  was  then  carefully  evaporated  to  a 
syrupy  consistence  (about  two  ounces  remaining)  ;  it  was  to  the 
taste  slightly  bitter,  with  none  of  the  acridity  of  the  original  in- 
fusion. After  standing  for  a  day  or  two,  a  slight  granular  preci- 
pitate formed  at  the  bottom  of  the  dish  :  the  precipitate  was  re- 
moved and  washed  with  alcohol,  in  which  it  was  insoluble,  also 
in  water,  and  upon  examination  was  found  to  be  a  salt  of  lime, 
probably  sulphate.  The  liquid  from  which  the  crystals  were  re- 
moved was  then  evaporated  to  the  consistency  of  an  extract,  and 
treated  with  boiling  alcohol,  which  dissolved  a  portion  of  it,  and 
which  was  set  aside  to  evaporate  spontaneously  ;  upon  cooling  it 
assumed  a  clouded  appearance,  and  left,  upon  evaporation,  a 
muddy  deposite,  evincing  no  disposition  to  assume  a  crystalline 
form.  The  portion  left  after  treatment  with  alcohol  dissolved 
readily  in  water  ;  it  had  a  sweet,  slightly  bitter  taste ;  evaporated 
and  heated  strongly  it  wTas  decomposed,  emitted  the  peculiar  odor 
of  burnt  sugar,  and  like  it  dissolved  in  water  with  a  deep  brown 
color. 
5000  grains  were  digested  with  alcohol  for  twelve  hours,  and 
then  thrown  into  a  percolator,  and  thirty-two  ounces  of  tincture 
obtained;  it  was  of  a  dark  color,  and  possessed  the  peculiar  taste 
of  the  root  to  a  much  greater  degree  than  the  former  infusion  ;  it 
was  evaporated  to  a  syrupy  form  and  then  thrown  into  warm  water, 
which  caused  a  separation  of  resin  and  fatty  matter,  which  was 
