202 Notice of some Recent [March 



M. Varry has made an interesting observation in refe- 

 rence to the action of this acid upon lichenine, by which 

 oxalic acid may be formed at a much cheaper rate than it 

 is at present. He digested 100 parts of lichenine with 600 

 parts of nitric acid of sp. gr. 1*34, and at the end of 28 days 

 formed a quantity of hydroxalic acid ; this is easily converted 

 into oxalic acid, for if the temperature is raised from the 

 ordinary heat of the atmosphere to 140°, crystals of oxalic 

 acid are deposited equivalent to 48*17 parts for 100 liche- 

 nine. The composition of lichenine is 



Oxygen . . . 53*43 

 Carbon . . . 39*33 

 Hydrogen. . . 7*24 



100*00 

 being analogous to amadine. 



Picrolichenine. (Jahresbericht, 1834, 319. J — In the 

 Variolaria amara Alms has discovered this substance which 

 crystallizes and communicates to that lichen its bitter 

 taste. The lichen is boiled with rectified spirits, the solu- 

 tion distilled to three-fourths, and the remainder allowed 

 to evaporate spontaneously. In the course of a week, 

 picrolichenine separates in crystals. These can be most 

 effectually separated from the thick mother liquor by 

 treating them with caustic potash ley, dissolving them in 

 alcohol and crystallizing. The crystals are in the form of 

 transparent colourless four-sided double pyramids with 

 rhombic bases, destitute of smell, but possess a strongly 

 bitter taste. Sp. gr. 1*176. Melts at 212°. Gives no trace 

 of ammonia by dry distillation, but the usual products. 

 Insoluble in cold water, slightly so in hot water. Soluble 

 in alcohol, from which solution, it is precipitated by water 

 in flocks. It is dissolved also by ether, volatile and fat 

 oils, ammonia, sulphuric and acetic acids. From the two 

 latter, it is precipitated by water. Alms recommends it in 

 small doses as an efficacious remedy in intermittent fever. 



Ergotine, (Berzelius Jahresbericht, 1834, 319.) — Wiggers 

 has extracted a principle from the secale comutum, which 

 he terms ergotine. The ergot of rye is treated with ether 

 and alcohol, and the solution evaporated. The ergotine 

 remains in the form of a reddish brown powder. By heat- 



