210 
ON  CORYBALIS  FORMOSA. 
portion  of  the  gritty  residuum,  after  the  action  of  hydrochloric 
acid,  on  being  heated  with  borax  in  the  oxidation  flame  before 
the  blowpipe,  formed  a  bead  communicating  a  purple  tinge, 
which  completely  disappeared  on  exposure  to  the  reduction 
flame,  indicating  the  presence  of  peroxide  of  manganese.  Another 
portion  treated  with  a  boiling  solution  of  potassa,  then  diluted 
and  filtered,  on  saturating  with  hydrochloric  acid,  a  gelatinous 
flocculent  precipitate  of  hydrated  silicic  acid  subsided.  The 
part  left  untouched,  both  by  hydrochloric  acid  and  solution  of 
potassa,  presented  small  angular  crystals,  which,  when  fused  with 
pure  potassa,  formed  a  compound  readily  soluble  in  water,  and 
precipitated  hydrated  silicic  acid  on  saturation  with  hydrochloric 
acid. 
From  the  foregoing  experiments,  therefore,  the  bulb  of  the 
Gorydalis  formosa  may  be  said  to  contain  the  following  organic 
and  inorganic  constituents  : 
Organic  Substances. 
Corydalia.  Brown  coloring  matter. 
Fu marie  acid.  Starch. 
Yellow  bitter  extractive.  Albumen. 
Acrid  resin  soluble  in  alcohol  and    Arabin  or  soluble  gum. 
ether,  containing  volatile  oil.  Bassorin  or  insoluble  gum. 
Tasteless  resin  soluble  in  alcohol,  Cellulose  and  cortical  substance. 
and  insoluble  in  ether. 
Inorganic  Substances. 
Soluble. 
Salts  of  potassa.  Salts  of  magnesia. 
«     h  lime. 
Insoluble. 
Carbonate  of  lime.  Protoxide  of  manganese,  (a  trace.) 
Alumina.  Hydrate  silicic  acid. 
Sesquioxide  of  iron.  Silicious  sand. 
Medical  Properties  mid  Uses. — Corydalis  is  considered  tonic, 
diuretic  and  alterative.  In  syphilitic  affections  it  is  thought  by 
Eclectic  practitioners  to  be  the  best  remedy  they  possess  for  that 
peculiar  complaint,  and  they  speak  with  confidence  of  its  efficacy, 
ascribing  to  it  almost  magical  powers.  It  is  also  deemed  valuable 
in  the  treatment  of  scrofula,  and  particularly  diseases  of  a 
cutaneous  character.    As  a  tonic,  its  properties  are  similar  to 
