68 NEW SUBSTANCE IN (ENANTHE FISTULOSA. 
ART. XV. — ON A NEW AND PECULIAR SUBSTANCE CON. 
TAIN ED IN (ENANTHE FISTULOSA. 
By M. Gerding. 
This well-known umbelliferous plant gives off, when rub- 
bed between the fingers in the fresh state, a peculiar nar- 
cotic odour. In attempting to isolate the narcotic princi- 
ple, no result was obtained by distilling with caustic potash; 
I therefore extracted 20 lbs. of the fresh herb repeatedly 
with alcohol of 0.863 spec. grav. at the ordinary tempera- 
ture, and freed the intensely-green extract from chlorophyle, 
&c. by acetate of lead. The liquid filtered from the green 
precipitate was of a light yellow colour, and possessed a 
still more penetrating odour, resembling turnips. The excess 
of lead was removed from the liquid by sulphuretted hydro- 
gen, filtered, and then evaporated at a gentle heat to with- 
in one-eighth of its volume, when a peculiar resinous sub- 
stance began to separate, which increased on further eva- 
poration, so that the whole was finally converted into a sy- 
rupy, resinous, viscous mass, which amounted from 20 lbs. of 
herb to between 4 and 5 grms. The blackish-brown sub- 
stance is somewhat tenacious, has an extremely disagreea- 
ble irritating taste, and a very penetrating narcotic odour, 
which is not easily got rid of from the hands. At 54° F. it 
is of a tenacious consistence ; at a somewhat higher temper- 
ature it becomes soft, and begins to melt at 68°. It is not 
soluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol at the ordina- 
ry temperature, but perfectly soluble in 12 parts of it be- 
tween 113° and 122°, equally in acetic acid at the same 
temperature, sparingly soluble in ether, and insoluble in 
sulphuric and hydrochloric acid ; nitric acid destroys it, 
producing a red colour. I propose the name of oenanthine 
or oenanthic resin forthis resinous substance. 
This substance contains nitrogen, as ammonia was evolv- 
ed on treating it with caustic potash ; it was found impossi- 
