426 DR MACLAGAN ON THE BEBEERU TREE OF BRITISH GUIANA. 



rated in very thin layers it is clear and transparent, separating from the evapo- 

 rating basin in small glittering yellow scales. 



The portion not dissolved by the ether is now to be taken up by alcohol, 

 treated with animal charcoal and filtered, and, on evaporation, is obtained in the 

 form of shining reddish-brown scales, not crystalline. This matter likewise pos- 

 sesses all the characters of a vegetable alkali. 



To the former of these alkaline bodies I apply the name of Bebeerine, origi- 

 nally used by Mr RODIE : to distinguish the second, I would give it the provisional 

 name of Sipeerine, from the Dutch name applied to the tree in Demerara. 



The difficulty of procuring these products uniform, and the consequent un- 

 certainty as to their purity, arises from their being uncrystallizable, and being at 

 the same time associated with a substance so troublesome to the chemist as tannin. 

 I have succeeded in obtaining the same results by another process which is some- 

 what more expeditious, but not so economical. It consists in heating the original 

 grey precipitate in water containing about 6 or 7 per cent, of caustic potash, which 

 forms a deep orange-red fluid, and leaves the greater portion of the alkalies, in 

 the form of hydrate, nearly white, which is to be dissolved in alcohol and treated 

 with anhydrous ether in the manner just detailed. A large proportion of the 

 alkaline matter is dissolved, along with the tannin, &c., in the potash ley, but 

 may in great measure be recovered from it, though in an impure state, by adding 

 muriate of ammonia to the liquid. 



Results of a precisely similar character were obtained from the seeds ; the 

 process of extraction, however, requiring some modification. As the seeds con- 

 tain starch, cold water is the proper menstruum for exhausting them, which can 

 be accomplished readily by the method of percolation. For this purpose the seeds 

 should only be coarsely bruised, otherwise the starchy matter is apt to form a 

 dense layer which impedes the passage of the fluid. The percolation should be 

 continued till the water passes without bitterness. The fluid is then concentrated 

 by boiling, during which a quantity of vegetable albumen separates, along with a 

 considerable amount of tannin, and a peculiar reddish-brown substance allied to 

 fatty matter. The fluid, when cooled and filtered, is precipitated by ammonia. 

 The precipitate is of a pale pink colour, but becomes brown on drying. The alka- 

 lies can most readily be obtained from it by treating it while still moist with 

 caustic potash, and subsequently by alcohol and ether in the manner formerly 

 described. 



There thus appear to exist, both in the bark and seeds, two bodies of an 

 alkaline nature distinct in their properties. It seemed likely that there should 

 be, besides the tannin, a vegetable acid of some kind present where so much or- 

 ganic matter of a basic kind existed, and to this my attention was also directed. 

 I succeeded in separating an organic acid by the following process. 



