1835.] Improvements in Science. 203 



ing it gives a peculiar smell, and tastes aromatic and bitter. 

 It is neutral, insoluble in water and ether, soluble in alco- 

 hol, from which solution it is precipitated by water in ^ 

 reddish brown flocks. By chlorine it is bleached. By 

 sulphuric acid dissolved, and again precipitated by water. 

 Caustic potash, but not carbonate of potash, dissolves it. 

 It is decomposed by nitric acid, but the product is nether 

 oxalic nor mucic acids. 



Cerine Ceraine and Myricine. — Ettling ( Ann. der Phar- 

 macies ii. 265.) obtained cerine from wax by alcohol. It 

 was crystalline, colourless, and consisted of, Carbon 78*862. 

 Hydrogen 13*488. Oxygen 7*647. From the cerine, ce- 

 raine was formed by drying and pulverizing the mass, 

 treating the margaric salt with alcohol, and afterwards the 

 residue with water, and then boiling in dilute muriatic acid, 

 evaporating to dryness, boiling in alcohol and allowing 

 crystals to form by cooling. The crystals melted on the 

 sand bath to free them from moisture yielded, Carbon 

 80*44. Hydrogen 13*75. Oxygen 5*81. 



Myricine, or the portion of wax insoluble in alcohol of 

 0*833 was dissolved in boiling absolute alcohol ; after cool- 

 ing, the product deposited was melted and analyzed. It 

 gave Carbon 80*01 . Hydrogen 13*85. Oxygen 6*14. 



Principle in Sarsaparilla. — According to Thubery a cry- 

 stalline substance exists in the sarsaparilla root which is 

 taken up by alcohol. 10 pounds of the root contain 3 oz. 

 1 dr. of the substance which is colourless and tastless, soluble 

 in alcohol and water. On charcoal it burns with the smell 

 of benzoin. 



Strut hiin, (Jachresbericht, 1834, 316.) — Bley has obtained 

 from the root of the gypsophila struthium, commonly termed 

 radix saponariae levanticae, a substance which he terms/ 

 Strut hiin. The bruised root was freed from oily matter by 

 ether, and afterwards digested in absolute alcohol This 

 solution was distilled in the water-bath till the liquid 

 amounted to a small quantity, and was then evaporated in 

 the air. By cooling, struthiin was deposited in white 

 flocks, which, when dry, form in yellow pieces. Struthiin 

 is destitute of smell, has a sweetish, mucus taste. It is not 

 volatile, but is inflammable, and burns with flame. It is 

 soluble in water, which it makes frothy like a solution of 



