Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1892. 
Myrica  Asplenifolia. 
303 
The  above  investigations  have  been  made  under  the  supervision 
of  Professor  Henry  Trimble,  to  whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  the 
Chimaphila  umbellata  used. 
MYRICA  ASPLENIFOLIA. 
By  Josiah  C.  Peacock,  Ph.G. 
Contribution  from  the  Chemical  Laboratory  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy, 
•  No.  no. 
While  making  some  determinations  of  tannin  in  the  moist 
rhizome  of  this  plant,  it  was  concluded  to  perform  an  analysis  of 
it  also. 
Moisture  was  present  to  the  extent  of  12-94  Per  cent.  Upon 
ignition  there  were  obtained  2-83  per  cent,  of  ash,  consisting  of 
potassium,  calcium  and  iron  in  combination  with  sulphuric,  phos- 
phoric and  carbonic  acids  accompanied  by  silica.  The  carbonates 
were  insoluble  in  water. 
When  treated  with  petroleum  ether,  -55  per  cent,  of  fat  and  two 
waxy  substances  were  removed-;  the  latter  differed  from  each  other 
in  solubility  in  absDlute  alcohol.  One  of  them  crystallized  in 
square  plates. 
Stronger  ether  removed  rn  per  cent,  of  extract  having  a  nar- 
cotic odor.  It  contained  no  gallic  acid,  nor  could  alkaloids  or 
glucosides  be  detected.  When  the  extract  was  dissolved  in  absolute 
alcohol  and  that  solution  allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneously  there 
separated  a  resinous  varnish-like  substance  on  the  side  of  the  beaker, 
while  on  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  a  yellow  granular  powder  was 
obtained. 
The  color  was  due  to  resin  like  that  on  the  side  of  the  beaker. 
It  was  removed  by  alcohol,  which  did  not  have  any  solvent  action 
on  the  white  granular  powder  which  remained  after  this  treatment. 
This  last  substance  was  also  insoluble  in  aqueous  solution  of 
potassium  hydrate.  It  did  not  melt  at  2400  C;  but  when  heated 
on  platinum  foil  it  melted  to  a  clear  liquid,  which  burnt  with  a 
luminous  sooty  flame.  The  resin  contained  in  the  extract  was 
soluble  in  alcohol.  This  solution  gave  a  green  color  with  ferric 
chloride  and  was  precipitated  by  water,  more  readily  when  the 
latter  contained  hydrochloric  acid. 
Absolute  alcohol  extracted  2-24  per  cent,  of  the  rhizome  in  the 
