90 
PROXIMATE PRINCIPLES OF VEGETABLES. 
the charcoal washed, dried and treated with hot alcohol, 
which became excessively bitter. After filtration the alco- 
hol was removed by distillation, when a milky liquid re- 
mained in the retort, in which floated numerous minute 
particles of a whitish substance, sparingly soluble in water, 
to which it nevertheless imparted an intense bitter taste ; it 
dissolved readily in alcohol, and the solution left an amor- 
phous residue on spontaneous evaporation. The milky li- 
quid evaporated in the hot chamber gave the same result. 
This substance is neutral, does not absorb moisture from 
the atmosphere, and produces on the tongue a sensation 
analogous to that caused by a caustic substance. Scillitine, 
as thus obtained, is solid, is readily decomposed by heat, 
dissolves in concentrated sulphuric acid, and appears to com- 
municate to the solution a purple colour, which instantly 
disappears, and turns black, owing to decomposition. It is 
also dissolved by nitric acid, but decomposed at the same 
time. 
iftrnicine. — A concentrated infusion of the flowers of Ar- 
nica montana was gradually filtered through a thick layer 
of animal charcoal, which had been previously washed. The 
filtered liquid was deprived of the bitter and colouring prin- 
ciples. The charcoal, after being washed and dried, was 
treated with alcohol, to which it imparted the bitter taste of 
the arnica. The alcoholic solution was filtered, and sub- 
mitted to distillation ; it left a milky liquid, which furnished 
on evaporation a substance having the appearance and con- 
sistence of turpentine. It is but very sparingly soluble in 
water, but nevertheless imparts to it a bitter taste. It dis- 
solves in every proportion in alcohol ; the solution, on spon- 
taneous evaporation, leaves a residue of a syrupy consist- 
ence. Arnicine is neutral. Acetate of lead must not be 
used in the preparation of this substance, as the precipitate 
carries down with it nearly the whole of the arnicine. 
Columbine. — An aqueous infusion of the Columbo root, 
obtained by displacement, was filtered through a thick stra- 
tum of animal charcoal ; in its passage it was deprived of its 
