Note 492 — PHARMACOLOGIA. (continued 3)

It is said that M. Royer has lately succeeded in obtaining from Digitalis its active basis; to which he has given the name of Digitalin. It was procured by digesting the plant in æther, and treating the solution with hydrated oxide of lead. It appears as a brown pasty substance, capable of slowly restoring the blue colour of reddened litmus paper; very bitter, and deliquescent. It was difficult to obtain it crystallized, but a drop of its solution in alcohol, evaporated on glass, over a lamp, when examined by the microscope, exhibited abundance of minute crystals. (Bib. Univ. xxvi. 102.) Farther experiments, however, are required to establish the truth of this statement.