THE ANTIBEBIBEKI VITAMINE 171 



method. From the above figures, the following formula was calcu- 

 lated: C26H 2 oN40 9 . Still, as we shall see later, these figures are 

 almost equally applicable for the formula of nicofcinic acid, C 6 H 5 O 2 N, 

 containing 58.3 per cent C, 4.08 per cent H, and 11.34 per cent N. 

 The substance seems to have been identical with that found in this 

 fraction earlier (I.e. 463). While the weight of the original crude 

 product was 2.5 grams, that of the recrystallized substance was 1.8 

 grams. On additional purification, the melting point was no higher. 

 The mother liquor was further fractionated, yielding a substance 

 which appeared to be more soluble in water than the first. After 

 many recrystallizations, it melted at 234C. (uncorrected). When 

 treated with a watery solution of picric acid, this substance yielded 

 a somewhat insoluble picrate, which could be recrystallized from 

 water, melted at 218C. (uncorrected), was light yellow in color and 

 crystallized in prisms and plates. The following results were 

 obtained on analysis: 



4.217 mgm. yielded 9.625 mgm. CO 2 and 1.48 mgm. H 2 O; 58.37 per cent C, 3.93 



per cent H. 

 4.276 mgm. yielded 9.16 mgm. CO 2 and 1.55 mgm. H 2 O; 58.45 per cent C, 



4.06 per cent H. 



3.11 mgm. yielded 0.315 cc. N (714 mm. 19.5C.); 11.11 per cent N. 

 3.608 mgm. yielded 0.362 cc. N (712 mm. 19.5C.); 10.97 per cent N. 



For the formula C 6 H 5 2 N (123.05) there is 58.3 per cent C, 4.08 

 per cent H, and 11.34 per cent N. The picrate had the following 

 composition: 



4.471 mgm. yielded 6.74 mgm. CO 2 and 0.895 mgm. H 2 O, 41.12 per cent C; 



2.24 per cent H. 

 2.404 mgm. yielded 0.349 cc. N (707 mm. 19C.); 15.79 per cent N. 



These figures correspond to the formula Ci 2 H 8 9 N4 (352.12), 

 which contains 40.9 per cent C, 2.29 per cent H, and 15.91 per cent N. 

 The composition of the substance, as well as its picrate, characterizes 

 it as nicotinic acid (m-pyridine carbonic acid). This substance was 

 first found in Nature by Suzuki, Shimamura and Odake (466), and 

 was later described in detail by Suzuki and Matsunaga (467). We 

 shall see later that the same substance was found by us in the vita- 

 mine fraction of yeast. 



From the mother liquor of the nicotinic acid, another substance 

 was isolated which gave the Millon reaction in the crude state. 



