200 
ON  GrELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS. 
the  tincture  of  iodine  were  added,  which  produced  a  fine  blue 
color,  which  disappeared  upon  the  application  of  heat,  evidencing 
starch  to  be  one  of  its  constituents. 
The  solution  of  subacetate  of  lead  produced  a  curdy  precipi- 
tate, indicating  the  presence  of  gum. 
Two  ounces  of  the  root  were  exhausted  with  cold  water,  and 
then  washed  with  a  solution  of  carbonate  of  soda,  which  removed 
considerable  coloring  matter.  The  filtrate  was  treated  with 
dilute  muriatic  acid,  which  caused  a  copious  precipitate  soluble 
in  dilute  acetic  acid,  thus  demonstrating  pectic  acid  to  enter  into 
its  constitution. 
One  ounce  of  the  finely  powdered  root  was  displaced  with 
ether,  to  exhaustion,  after  twenty-four  hours  maceration.  The 
tincture  thus  obtained  was  of  a  dark  green  color,  and  yielded 
upon  evaporation  twenty-one  grains  of  a  green  resin,  resembling 
the  resin  of  the  Cannabis  indica,  (Indian  Hemp.)  This  was 
insoluble  in  water,  slightly  so  in  alcohol,  and  possessing  the 
peculiar  bitter  taste  of  the  drug.    Thus  showing  fatty  resin. 
A  small  quantity  of  a  tincture  made  with  strong  alcohol 
(.809°)  was  evaporated  to  dryness,  and  the  residue  laid  upon  filter- 
ing paper,  to  which  it  communicated  a  greasy  stain,  which  did 
not  disappear  upon  the  application  of  heat ;  a  fixed  oil  was 
thus  proven  to  exist  in  it. 
A  tincture  was  made  by  exhausting  two  ounces  of  the  bruised 
root  by  displacement  with  eight  fluidounces  of  alcohol,  .835°. 
The  filtered  liquor  was  of  a  reddish  brown  color,  and  of  an 
intensely  bitter  taste.  One  half  of  this  was  evaporated  to  dry- 
ness, which  yielded  a  fine  garnet  colored  extract,  partially  soluble 
in  water  and  ether.  The  other  half  was  evaporated  to  a  syrupy 
consistence  and  thrown  upon  a  quantity  of  water,  which  caused 
the  resin  to  be  precipitated  in  the  form  of  a  yellow  powder ;  this 
was  re-dissolved  in  alcohol  .835°,  and  some  animal  charcoal  was 
added  ;  it  was  then  boiled  after  maceration  for  twenty-four  hours  ; 
the  solution  being  colorless,  was  again*  thrown  upon  a  quantity 
of  water,  by  which  the  resin  was  precipitated  in  the  form  of  a 
colorless  powder ;  it  was  then  collected  by  decantation  and  filtra- 
tion, and  when  powdered,  it  resembled  powdered  tannic  acid.  To 
this  product,  the  Eclectic  Association  have  appended  the  name 
of  "  Grelsemin"  alleging  that  it  is  the  active  principle.  By  these 
