Fruit of Menispermum Cocculus. 167 



grains are first digested several times with moderately strong 

 alcohol, all the substances which would otherwise be taken up 

 by the aether are removed, and the fat alone remains. In warm 

 aether it is very easily soluble, from which it crystallizes on 

 cooling in dendritic aggregations. It does not crystallize from 

 alcohol, in which it is but sparingly soluble, but separates as 

 a white powder. When perfectly pure it melts at from 35° to 

 36° C, does not crystallize on cooling, but shrinks together, 

 forming a wave-like rough surface; it cannot be reduced to a 

 powder, and strongly resembles wax. It does not saponify 

 easily on being boiled with dilute solution of potash, but im- 

 mediately when melted with potash and a small quantity of 

 water. It then affords, when boiled with water, a clear solu- 

 tion, from which acids separate the stearophanic acid. 



When subjected to dry distillation it afforded acroleine, a 

 solid fat acid body, and a liquid product, but no sebacic acid; 

 it therefore contains glycerine, but is free from oleine. 



Before burning it with oxide of copper it was kept for some 

 time in the water-bath, to freeitfrom adhering traces of alcohol. 

 The following numbers were obtained : — 



J. 0*329 grm. of stearophanine gave 0*919 carbonic acid, 

 and 361 water. 



ii. 0*231 grm. gave 0*645 carbonic acid, and 0*257 water, 

 in. 021 3 grm. gave 0*236 water. 

 In 100 we have 



i. ii. in. 



Carbon . . 76*81 76*69 



Hydrogen. 12*19 12*36 12*30 



Oxygen . . 11*10 10*95 



which agrees with the formula C 38 H 72 O 4 . 



38 atoms Carbon. . . 2882*45 77*24 



72 ... Hydrogen . 449*25 12*04 



4 ... Oxygen. . . 400*00 10*72 



In the present case the same formula must be admitted for 

 the constitution of glycerine as was proposed by Mr. Stenhouse 

 in his memoir on Palmitine*, and which has likewise been 

 adopted by M. Marsson for that occurring in combination 

 with Laurostearic acid in the bay berries f. According to 

 the above analyses, stearophanine consists of 



1 atom of Stearophanic acid = C^H^O 3 



1 ... Glycerine = C 3 H 4 O 



1 ... Stearophanine.. = C 38 H 72 O 4 

 However similar the constitution of stearophanic acid may 

 appear to that of margaric acid, there cannot be the least doubt 



* Philosophical Magazine, S. 3. vol. xviii. p. 190. 



t Annalen der Chew., und Pharm., vol. xli. p. 329 ; see also the present 

 Number, pp. 237, 238. 



