ON  GELSEMINUM  SEMPER VIRENS. 
203 
in  crystallizing  it.  This  substance  was  white,  inodorous  and  of 
intense  bitterness. 
A  piece  of  litmus  paper  was  moistened  with  a  very  dilute 
solution  of  muriatic  acid,  which  changed  the  original  blue  color 
of  the  paper  to  a  light  red ;  upon  this  paper,  while  yet  moist, 
was  laid  a  very  small  quantity  of  the  amphorous  powder,  which 
instantly  restored  the  blue  color  to  that  part  of  the  paper  upon 
which  it  was  placed.  Thus  evidently  showing  that  this  substance 
is  an  alkaloid,  and,  therefore,  may  properly  be  called  Gelseminia. 
Examination  of  the  Ashes. — Four  hundred  and  eighty  grains 
of  the  powdered  Jessamine  root  yielded  upon  combustion  in  a 
platinum  crucible,  eighteen  grains  of  ashes. 
By  treatment  with  water,  carbonate  and  sulphate  of  potassa 
were  dissolved  out.  The  insoluble  residue,  after  treatment  with 
muriatic  acid,  left  a  silicious  residue,  whilst  the  acid  solution  con- 
tained salts  of  iron,  lime  and  magnesia. 
The  foregoing  experiments  show  that  the  root  of  the  Gelseminum 
sempervirens  contains  Albumen,  Gallic  Acid,  Starch,  Gum, 
Pectic  Acid,  Fatty  Resin,  Fixed  Oil,  Dry  Acrid  Resin,  Yellow 
Coloring  Matter,  Volatile  Oil,  Extractive  Matter,  Lignin, 
Gelseminia,  (a  peculiar  alkaloid;)  Salts  of  Potassa,  Lime,  Mag- 
nesia, Iron  and  Silica. 
The  leaves  and  blossoms,  from  the  few  experiments  I  have  been 
able  to  institute  wTith  them,  contain  the  same  ingredients,  but  in 
much  smaller  quantities. 
Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  the  root,  and  its  real 
scarcity,  my  experiments  in  isolating  the  active  principle  have  not 
been  carried  out  as  far  as  was  desirable  ;  reserving  this  as  a  basis 
for  a  future  paper,  I  shall  simply  say  in  conclusion,  that  it  has 
been  out  of  my  power  to  experiment  with  the  Gelseminia.  This 
I  sincerely  hope  some  one  will  undertake  whose  opportunities 
are  more  favorable  to  success  than  mine  are. 
September  1th,  1854. 
[Note. — It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Mr.  Kollock  did  not  have  the  acrid 
resin  (Gelsemin),  the  alkaloid  Gelseminia,  and  the  volatile  oil,  tried  in  refer- 
ence to  their  medicinal  activity.  The  well  known  power  of  hemp  resin 
(Cannabin,)  should,  at  least,  induce  a  trial  before  deciding  this  to  be  inert. 
If  Gelseminia  is  the  active  principle,  it  must  necessarily  be  a  powerful  and 
interesting  substance,  worthy  of  the  notice  of  the  experimental  therapeutist. 
The  engraving  was  drawn  by  the  artist  from  a  specimen  of  the  plant. — En.] 
