258 
DAPHNE TRIBE OP PLANTS. 
In order to repeat Vauquelin's experiment of distilling the 
alcohol from the tincture of Mezereon, I digested half an 
ounce of bruised bark of the root in ten ounces of alcohol, for 
twelve hours, at about 150°, and then distilled off one-half 
of the alcohol. In this process none of the pungency of the 
root comes over, and consequently the tincture, which re- 
mains in the retort, is concentrated in proportion to the quan- 
tity of alcohol removed from it. By this means we may ob- 
tain a very effective preparation, which may be given inter- 
nally, or mixed with lard, to form a stimulating ointment. 
When an ointment is made by boiling the root in lard, it very 
soon spoils by keeping. 
The above ten ounces of tincture yielded a drachm of dry 
resin; but the Daphne Laureola, treated in the same manner, 
yielded only forty-five grains. 
It is my intention to make further experiments on this 
subject, with a view to investigate the active principle on 
which the effects of this class of plants depend, for it is clear 
the efficacy does not reside in the so-called vegetable alkaloid 
Daphnine. Those who are interested in it may find some 
information in a paper, by M. Vauquelin, in the "Annals of 
Philosophy," new series, 8th vol., page 305, where several 
experiments are described, showing the active principle to be 
analogous to conia in its nature. Ibid. 
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