DR MACLAGAN ON THE BEBEERU TREE OF BRITISH GUIANA. 429 



but without the least appearance of crystallization. It is readily dissolved by 

 alcohol, and also by proof spirit. It is sparingly soluble in water, and insoluble 

 in ether. It combines with and neutralizes acids, forming uncrystallizable salts 

 of an olive-brown tint, having, when in thin scales, a glistening appearance, which 

 gives them the same false appearance of crystallization as in the case of the salts 

 of bebeerine. Though I have not examined it further, I have little doubt, from 

 its appearance and general properties, that it is a distinct substance. 



Bebeeric acid. When pure, it is white and beautifully crystalline. It deli- 

 quesces rapidly, assuming the syrupy form, especially in an atmosphere at all 

 moist. At a temperature of 300 it fuses ; and a little above 400 it sublimes, 

 apparently unchanged, and condenses in tufts of acicular crystals. It forms 

 with baryta, lime, and magnesia, salts which are sparingly soluble in water ; with 

 potash and soda, salts which are deliquescent, and soluble in rectified spirit ; and 

 with lead, a salt which is very sparingly dissolved even by boiling water. 



The tannin ofbebeeru bark has attracted my attention, chiefly from its marked 

 resemblance in general characters to that variety which exists in the cinchona 

 barks. It strikes a green tint with persalts of iron. It becomes slowly altered by 

 exposure to the air, becoming sparingly soluble in cold water, and giving rise to 

 a deposit which presents the general characters of the well known cinchom'c red. 

 Besides these more important constituents, the bark contains brown resinous 

 matter, gum, woody fibre, and a large proportion of calcareous salts. I have not 

 detected any starch in the bark. 



The seeds contain a little sugar, abound in starch, and contain likewise a red 

 fatty matter, which obstinately adheres to the alkalies during precipitation, giv- 

 ing them a pink or reddish tint. 



The general composition of the bark and seeds will appear from the follow- 

 ing analysis : 



Bark. Seeds.* 



Alkalies (not quite pure), .... 2.56 2.20 



Tannin and resinous matter, .... 2.53 



Soluble matter (gum, sugar, and salts), . . 4.34 

 Starch, . . . . . . .... 



Fibre and vegetable albumen, . . ,''' . 62.92 



Ashes, chiefly calcareous, '.'::. . . 7.13 



Moisture, . . , , . . . . 14.07 



Loss, ...... !.. . 6.45 



100.00 100.00 



The interest which attaches itself to this plant, is not limited to the fact of its 

 adding to the already formidable list of our vegetable alkalies and acids, but arises 



* The seeds which I analyzed had dried very much by keeping. 



