ON SYMPLOCARPUS F(ETIDUS. 
5 
which consisted of a fixed oil soluble in alcohol, and wax with 
some colouring matter; the oil was tasteless, but the dark co- 
louring matter, which was also soluble in alcohol, had a slight, 
peculiar taste. 
One ounce of the powdered root, was submitted to the ac- 
tion of gvj. of a menstruum, composed of 4 parts of hydro- 
chloric acid, to 100 parts of water. This tincture was of a 
dark, wine red colour. 
The addition of oxalate of ammonia caused a very abund- 
ant white precipitate, showing the existence of lime, and 
establishes the view before taken of its assuming the form of 
carbonate in the drying of the root; this being converted into 
a muriate by the acid, is then precipitated as an oxalate, by 
the above named test. 
Ferrocyanate of potash, caused a blue precipitate; but the 
infusion of galls none. 
The pure hydrochloric acid, was tested for iron, of which it 
contained scarce a trace, whereas the dilute muriatic tincture 
gave a very deep blue precipitate. 
The surface of a slice of the root was removed by means of 
a piece of glass, that the root having been cut with a metallic 
knife might not affect the experiment; it was then moistened 
with dilute nitric acid, and a drop of solution of ferrocyanate 
of potash was applied, which gave a greenish* blue tint. The 
iron exists in such small quantity as not to be detected by 
gallic acid, but the ferrocyanate acts, from being a much more 
delicate test. 
The infusion, made with warm water, contains more of the 
peculiar properties of the root than any other preparation; it 
is of a sweetish, bitter taste, leaving, on being drank, an acrid 
sensation, like tobacco on the fauces. 
An infusion of the coarsely bruised root was made, which 
was very mucilaginous; alcohol was added to precipitate part 
of the mucilage; the liquid filtered, which was nearly colour- 
less, (it smelled much stronger after the addition of the alcohol 
than before) to some of the filtered liquor, was added aqua 
ammonia; which instantly changed it to a light red colour; on 
