204 Notice of some Recent [March 



soap. It is insoluble both in hot and cold absolute alcohol, 

 but somewhat soluble in alcohol containing water, insoluble 

 in ether. It is decomposed by hot sulphuric acid, but is 

 not dissolved by muriatic acid. The root contains \ per 

 cent, of struthiin. 



Eight months after the experiments of Bley were made, 

 M. Bussy published an analysis of the same root, and 

 termed the principle saponin, which he found to consist of 



Carbon . . . 51' 

 Hydrogen. . . 7*4 

 Oxygen . . . 41*6 



100-0 



but he observes that this is merely to be considered an 

 approximation. 



Various Vegetable substances, {Ann. de Chim. i. 197.)— 

 Pelletier has analyzed a number of vegetable substances, 

 and obtained the subsequent results : — 



Carbon. Hydrogen. Oxygen. 



1. Oily matter of opium . 72-39 



2. Caoutchouc of opium . 87-89 



3. Santaline 75-03 



4. Olivile 63-84 



5. Sarcocolline, Azote. 57*15 



6. Piperine 4-51 70'51 



1 . The oily part of opium which remains after the evapo- 

 ration of the ether solution, is mixed with narcotin and 

 caoutchouc. From the latter it may be separated by 

 alcohol, and from the former by muriatic acid. 



3. Constitutes the colouring matter of sandal wood. 



4. The sap of the Poenea mucronata produces sarcocoll, 

 and from the latter the sarcocolline was extracted, first by 

 heating it with ether, and then with absolute alcohol. 



Benzine. — When benzoate of lime is subjected to distilla- 

 tion at a temperature of 300°, (572° F.) a brown oily matter, 

 denser than water, comes over, and carbonate of lime re- 

 mains. If this oil be distilled on the sand bath, a limpid 

 oil passes over, which is lighter than water, and possesses 

 the smell of bitter almonds, and boils at 82°, (179° F.) By 



