ON  PIPITZAHOIC  ACID. 
243 
with  the  acid,  were  in  the  Paris  Exhibition,  is  the  produce  of  a 
compositous  plant,  probably,  we  are  informed,  of  the  genus 
Trixis.  It  is  used  in  its  native  country  as  a  drastic  purgative, 
in  the  somewhat  large  dose  of  two  or  three  drachms.  The  acid 
is  likewise  purgative  in  a  dose  of  from  six  to  twelve  grains. 
The  methods  employed  by  M.  de  la  Loza  for  the  separation  of 
the  acid  are  sufficiently  simple.  The  first  is  by  sublimation :  a 
quantity  of  the  root  in  powder  is  mixed  with  an  equal  volume  of 
sand  and  cautiously  heated  to  a  temperature  not  exceeding  176°F. 
The  acid  sublimes,  and  may  be  collected  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
vessel.  A  second  method  consists  in  pouring  an  alcoholic  tinc- 
ture of  the  root  into  water,  wdien  pipitzahoic  acid  (impure,  we 
presume)  is  precipitated.  A  third  process  is  that  of  allowing 
the  alcoholic  tincture  to  evaporate  spontaneously,  when  the  acid 
will  crystallize  out.* 
Pipitzahoic  acid  has  been  investigated  in  the  laboratory  of 
Professor  Liebig  by  Mr.  Mason  C.  Weld.f  This  chemist  describes 
the  pure  acid  as  readily  soluble  in  absolute  alcohol  and  in  ether, 
from  which  it  is  precipitated  upon  the  addition  of  water,  in  volu- 
minous yellow  masses.  Upon  evaporation  of  the  alcoholic  solu- 
tion, the  acid  is  found  crystallized  in  tufts  of  lamellar  crystals. 
Crystallized  from  ether,  it  forms  small,  shining,  obliquely-rhombic 
tables.  The  acid  has  a  golden-yellow  color,  and  is  unchanged 
by  exposure  to  the  air.  At  about  212°  F.  it  fuses,  forming  a  red 
liquid,  which,  upon  cooling,  solidifies  in  a  crystalline  form  :  at  a 
little  over  212°,  it  sublimes  unchanged,  condensing  in  the  form 
of  golden-yellow  scales. 
Pipitzahoic  acid,  according  to  Mr.  Weld,  has  a  composition  of 
C30  H20  06.  Caustic  and  carbonated  alkalies  and  the  alkaline 
earths  give,  with  solutions  of  the  acid,  an  intense  purple  color. 
The  salts  of  the  alkalies  possess  this  characteristic  color  ;  they 
are  easily  soluble  in  water,  alcohol,  or  ether.  Combinations  of  the 
oxides  of  copper,  silver  and  lead,  with  pipitzahoic  acid  have  also 
been  obtained. 
The  acid,  it  is  thought,  may  be  useful  as  a  dye,  and  also  as  a. 
chemical  test  for  alkalies. — Lond.  Pliarm.  Jour.  Feb.  1856. 
*  Catalogue  des  Produiis  Naturels,  Industriels,  &c.  exposes  dans  la  Section- 
Mexicainc  u  V Exposition  Universelle  de  1855.    Paris:  1855.    Page  51. 
'^Annalen  cler  Ckemie  und  Pharmacie,  August,  1855,  p.  188. 
