6 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
standing it became much deeper, and in the course of twenty- 
four hours deposited a blackish purple substance, which was 
separated by filter; it was encumbered by a large quantity of 
mucilage, and when pressed between the teeth was gritty, but 
there was so small a quantity of the precipitate, that no expe- 
riments could be pursued on it. 
An infusion was also made from which the mucilage was 
precipitated by subacetate of lead; the excess of lead by sul- 
phuretted hydrogen, and ammonia added to the filtered liquid, 
which gave no satisfactory results. 
One thousand grains of the finely bruised root were sub- 
jected to the action of gxij. distilled vinegar of the specific 
gravity 1.007 for the space of four weeks, being frequently 
shaken in the interval; the ingredients were submitted to 
strong pressure, and the liquid when filtered, was of a bright 
yellow colour, of specific gravity 1.0405, possessing the foetid 
smell of the plant in a high degree. 
To this clear filtered solution, subacetate of lead was added 
so long as any precipitate fell, thus separating any mucilage 
that might be present; after the separation of this precipitate 
by the filter, a solution of oxalate of ammonia was added to 
throw down any excess of lead, as well as lime, that might be 
present in the solution taken up from the root by the acetic 
acid; the insoluBle oxalates of lead, and lime, were separated 
by means of a filter, the liquor still retaining its yellow colour. 
Aqua ammonia was now added, to neutralize the acetic acid; 
this changed* the liquid to alight purple colour; this purple 
solution was set aside for twenty -four hours, in which time a 
blackish purple substance was deposited on the bottom and 
sides of the precipitating glass, the dark coloured liquor was 
drawn off by a capillary siphon, the remaining portion sepa- 
rated by a filter; this substance was washed with pure water 
to separate any acetate of ammonia, filtered, and dried with 
bibulous paper. The precipitate amounted to but four grains; 
it was of a blackish colour, and granular appearance, insolu- 
ble in ether, alcohol or water, but slightly soluble in any of 
the acids — no taste, perhaps owing to its insolubility; yielding 
