ON JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA. 231 
seasons, it does not appear to have elicited much attention 
from chemists. I have never seen any analysis of any part 
of it recorded. With a view, therefore, of ascertaining what 
are the chemical constituents of the leaves, I have been in- 
duced to perform a few experiments. 
The leaves were gathered in the fall, when perfectly de- 
veloped, and carefully separated from the twigs and all ex- 
traneous matter. 
1. A decoction was made by boiling two ounces of the 
fresh leaves in a pint of water for fifteen minutes; when fil- 
tered, it was of a greenish-yellow color, and showed a slight 
acid reaction when dropped upon litmus paper. 
To a portion of this decoction a few drops of the subacetate 
of lead in solution were added, when immediately a copious 
precipitate, of a dull white color, ensued ; this precipitate 
was separated by filtration, and dried. It was readily soluble 
in nitric acid, which changed it to a dull red color, and formed 
a mucilage with water. 
With other portions silicated potassa threw down a dull 
white precipitate, lime water a dark yellow, and alcohol a 
grayish one; thus proving the existence of gum. 
Starch could not be detected in the decoction, by either the 
infusion of galls, or tincture of iodine. 
2. To another portion of the decoction a small quantity of 
the tincture of muriate of iron was added ; at first the liquid 
assumed a bluish color, but in a few minutes a dark brown 
substance precipitated. With another portion a solution of 
gelatin threw down a light yellow precipitate, showing the 
presence of tannic acid. 
3. One ounce of the leaves was beaten in a mortar with 
six ounces of cold water, until the liquid assumed a pulpy 
consistence. When filtered it was of a light yellowish cast, 
and partook of but little of the taste or odor of the leaves. A 
portion of it yielded an ash-colored precipitate with a solu- 
tion of corrosive sublimate. After the substance had ceased 
to precipitate, the liquid was well shaken and thrown upon a 
filter, on which the precipitate remained. When dry it was 
