) 
6  JEFFERSONIA  DIPHYLLA. 
kind  that  yields  no  precipitates  with  solutions  of  gelatin  and  tar- 
tar emetic,  and  produces,  with  sesqui  salts  of  iron  a  green  color, 
starch,  pectin,  fatty-resin,  resin,  sugar,  lignin,  a  peculiar  acrid 
acid  resembling  polygalic  acid,  and  a  bitter  principle  which  I  have 
not  had  time  to  examine  fully. 
Inorganic  Constituents. — 2000  grains  of  the  bark  in  coarse 
powder  were  partially  incinerated  in  a  Hessian  crucible,  then  trans- 
ferred to  a  platina  one  and  the  incineration  completed.  Fifty- 
three  grains  of  ash  were  obtained.  The  ash  was  treated  with 
boiling  distilled  water  as  long  as  it  dissolved  any  portion  of  it, 
and  the  solution  then  evaporated  to  dryness,  redissolved  in  water 
and  neutralized  with  nitric  acid,  with  evolution  of  carbonic  acid. 
A  portion  of  the  solution  was  then  evaporated  to  dryness;  it  had 
the  cooling  taste  of  nitrate  of  potassa,  and  deflagrated  upon 
being  thrown  upon  glowing  coal.  The  remainder  of  the  solution 
was  then  treated  with  tartaric  acid,  which  caused  a  white  crystal- 
line precipitate  ;  bichloride  of  platina  produced  a  yellow  deposite, 
and  nitrate  of  baryta  a  white  precipitate  insoluble  in  nitric  acid. 
These  tests  indicating  that  the  soluble  portion  of  the  ash  contains, 
both  carbonate  and  sulphate  of  potassa. 
The  insoluble  portion  of  the  ash  was  now  treated  with  dilute 
hydrochloric  acid,  the  greater  portion  of  the  ash  was  dissolved, 
with  escape  of  carbonic  acid.  The  solution  was  filtered,  and  the 
insoluble  portions  upon  the  filter  washed  with  water.  The  solu- 
tion was  then  evaporated  to  dryness  and  dissolved  in  water.  Oxa- 
late of  ammonia  was  added  to  a  portion  of  it,  which  threw  down 
a  white  precipitate  of  oxalate  of  lime.  Sulphuric  acid  also  threw 
down  a  white  precipitate,  sulphate  of  lime.  To  another  portion 
ferrocyanide  of  potassium,  which  gave  the  characteristic  blue 
color  indicating  the  presence  of  iron.  To  the  remaining  portion 
phosphate  of  soda  was  added,  which  gave  the  solution  an  opaque 
appearance  ;  upon  the  addition  of  ammonia  to  it,  a  white  pre- 
cipitate was  produced,  indicating  the  presence  of  magnesia. 
The  insoluble  portion  of  the  ash  left  after  treatment  with  di- 
lute hydrochloric  acid  was  then  treated  with  strong  hydrochloric 
acid,  with  heat.  A  small  portion  of  the  ash  was  left  undissolved, 
silica.  To  the  solution  ammonia  was  added,  sufficient  to  neutral- 
ize it,  and  then  acetic  acid  ;  a  gelatinous  precipitate  formed  of 
