PROXIMATE PRINCIPLES OF VEGETABLES. 
89 
the purple solution of digitaline in sulphuric acid is diluted 
with water,it instantly loses its colour, and acquires a yellow- 
ish-green one, resembling that of chlorine. Concentrated 
nitric acid dissolves it without assuming any colour ; the 
same is the case with hydrochloric acid. No precipitate is 
formed by pouring ammonia into solutions of digitaline. 
The same was found to be the case with acetate of lead, 
lime-water, potash and soda. Digitaline did not appear to 
to me contain any nitrogen. 
This process having furnished me with a very satisfactory 
result, I applied it, with certain modifications, to isolate 
other proximate principles, and always with success. 
Jlicine. — 2 lbs. of powdered holly-leaves, treated with 
boiling water, furnished a greenish decoction, which was 
very bitter ; the liquid was decanted, filtered, and boiled 
with animal charcoal, being stirred constantly. On remov- 
ing the flask from the fire, the charcoal subsided, and the 
liquid, which had lost its colour and much of its taste, was 
decanted. The animal charcoal was washed, boiled, and treat- 
ed with boiling alcohol, to which it imparted the bitter taste of 
the hoily ; the liquid was filtered, and the alcohol removed 
by distillation, when a colourless inodorous liquid remained 
at the bottom of the vessel, of a very bitter taste and a sy- 
rupy consistence. This solution was neutral ; it furnished, 
on spontaneous evaporation or in the stove, a solid amor- 
phous substance, of the appearance of gelatine, to which I 
have given the name of Ilicine. It is soluble in water and 
in alcohol ; and although not hygrometric, I have not been 
able to obtain it in the crystalline state. 
Scillitine. — A concentrated, highly-coloured and vicious 
decoction of the bulbs of squills was precipitated by acetate 
of lead (the viscosity of the liquid preventing the precipita- 
tion of the animal charcoal), and filtered. The resulting li- 
quid was agitated in the cold with animal charcoal, and 
the vessel containing the mixture set aside; gradually the 
animal charcoal subsided, and carried down with it the bit- 
ter and colouring principles ; the liquid was decanted, and 
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