298  Chimaphila  Umbellata.  {Am  j^!9hirm' 
the  mixed  stems  and  roots  of  both  species  were  extracted  with 
petroleum  ether.  The  exhausted  residues  were  freed  of  petroleum 
ether  and  a"  portion  of  each  distilled  with  water  as  the  whole  drug 
had  been.  No  crystals  were  obtained,  neither  in  the  distillate  nor 
apparatus. 
The  solvent  was  distilled  from  the  extract  of  both  plants  and 
the  latter  distilled  in  the  same  manner,  as  above,  with  water, 
whereby  the  crystalline  solid  was  obtained  in  both  cases  in  the 
condenser. 
A  part  of  the  petroleum  ether  extract  of  Chimaphila  umbel- 
lata was  recrystallized  from  alcohol  by  means  of  which  light  yellow 
crystals  having  the  general  appearance  of  those  obtained  by  distil- 
lation were  obtained.  These  crystals  were  subsequently  distilled 
with  water  without  apparent  change. 
These  experiments  prove  that  the  substance  is  not  obtainable 
from  fresh  Chimaphila  maculata,  but  is  obtained  from  the  latter,  dried 
in  the  ordinary  way ;  hence,  if  it  pre-exist  in  the  dry  plant,  it  is  a 
direct  product  of  a  change  during  drying,  but,  if  it  is  not  pre-exist- 
ent  therein,  it  is  an  indirect  product  of  the  same  change ;  its  pro- 
duction from  a  product  of  this  change  being  effected  by  the  con- 
ditions of  the  process  yielding  it. 
It  seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  fresh  Chimaphila  umbellata 
may  not  yield  it,  although  experiments  were  not  made  to  prove 
this. 
The  crystals  obtained  by  distilling  commercial  Chimaphila  um- 
bellata were  recrystallized  from  alcohol  sp.  gr.  -820.  The  alcoholic 
solutions  were  treated  with  animal  charcoal  which  removed  a  small 
amount  of  coloring  matter.  From  alcohol  the  chimaphilin  separated 
in  compact  masses  composed  of  yellow  needles  radiately  arranged 
and  which  as  stated  above  melted  at  113-1140  C.  These  needles 
had  but  little  taste;  but  they  produced  a  slight  tingling  of  the  tongue 
and  fauces.  They  were  nearly  destitute  of  odor  also.  They  were 
insoluble  in  water,  but  soluble  in  both  ordinary  and  absolute 
alcohol,  chloroform,  ether,  benzol,  benzine,  acetone  and  glacial  acetic 
acid,  and  from  the  last  solvent  were  precipitated,  in  crystalline  form, 
to  all  appearances  unchanged,  upon  the  addition  of  water. 
When  carefully  heated  they  sublimed  and  condensed  again 
apparently  unaltered  from  their  original  condition.  Neither  alco- 
holic solution  of  lead  acetate  nor  of  ferric  chloride  had  any  effect 
