i\^ Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



If this bark be acted upon, as pale bark is, for cinchonia, tlie 

 new substance will be obtained. At first it resembles cinchonia, 

 being white, transparent, and crystalline ; but after being fused 

 by heat, it does not volatilize as cinchonia does. It is soluble in 

 alcohol and ether, but not in water. It has no taste at first, but 

 gradually a sense of heat, bitterness, and constriction is felt. 

 Acids develope its taste. 



In combination with acids it is easily distinguished. The sul- 

 phate of cinchonia is crystalline. The sulphate of the new all^ali 

 does not crystallize, from its aqueous solution 5 but if, in proper 

 proportion, the solution on cooling become gelatinous and white, 

 like blanc-mange; if then dried, it becomes horny, and the dry 

 mass in boiling water becomes gelatinous. 



The sulphate dissolved in hot alcohol crystallizes in silky 

 needles as the temperature falls ; these are soluble in water, pro- 

 ducing, if in proper quantity, the gelatinizing solution. Unlike 

 the alkaline crystals, they are not soluble in ether. 



Nitric acid has a very peculiar action on the new vegeto-alkali. If 

 strong, it produces an intense green colour 3 if weak, it dissolves 

 the substance without producing alteration of tint. In the first 

 case there is destruction in the substance 5 in the second, mere 

 combination. 



A correct analysis of this bark is to be given hereafter. — A7in. 

 de Chimie, xlii. 331. 



21. Buccina: new principle, iji Box-wood. — An apothecary of Bor- 

 deaux announced to the Pharmaceutical Society of Paris, at its 

 last sitting, that he had discovered in the wood, and particularly 

 in the bark, of the box-tree, an alkaline principle to which he gives 

 the name of buccina. It is in the form of powder, and neutralizes 

 acids, forming uncrystallizable salts : it has a very strong sudorific 

 action and bitter taste. M. Dupetit Thouars, in making this 

 statement at the Philomathic Society, remarked that buccina might 

 perhaps be advantageously used in the manufacture of beer, " for 

 there is more box-wood than hops employed in making almost all 

 the beer brewed in Paris." — N. M. Mag. xxx. 112. 



22. On certain Double Cofnpounds of the Muriates of the Fegeio- 

 alkalies. — This investigation has been carried on by M. Caillot 

 through several classes of substances. He first considered the 

 compounds of the muriates of the vegeto-alkalies with the per- 

 chloride of mercury. If into any of those muriates a diluted 

 solution of corrosive sublimate be poured, there is an abundant 

 white precipitate produced : it is slightly soluble in water and 

 alcohol, and unaltered by the airj its taste partakes of that of 

 the substances employed. Heat first fuses it, and then causes 

 decomposition. 



The compound produced by the muriate of cinchonia is the only 

 one that has been analyzed : 100 parts contained 39.57 corrosive 

 sublimate. 



