contained in Coal-gas Naphtha. 125 



whole separates, two distinct layers become visible, the one 

 principally composed of oil and the other of water. When 

 a solution of the smelling base is heated with a few drops of 

 sulphuric or oxalic acids, the oil separates in globules and the 

 fluid only clarifies on the addition of an excess of acid. This 

 reaction does not take place with pure cyanol. 



Neither this base nor an aqueous solution of it affects tur- 

 meric or reddened litmus paper, but the watery solution co- 

 lours distinctly green the violet syrup of dahlias. A glass 

 rod moistened with hydrochloric acid and held over cyanol 

 is enveloped in white vapours; this also takes place with nitric 

 acid, but in a less degree. 



Cyanol, like the essential oils, dissolves sulphur, and when 

 heated, in very large quantities ; upon cooling, the sulphur is 

 deposited in shining prisms. Phosphorus is also dissolved, 

 but in smaller quantities, but not arsenic. Further, it dissolves 

 camphor and colophony, but copal may be melted under the 

 oil without any portion of it being imbibed. Cyanol, even 

 boiling, dissolves only traces of caoutchouc. This base, like 

 carbolic acid, coagulates albumen. 



Cyanol powerfully disperses and refracts light; from the 

 measurement of the smallest divergence I ascertained its index 

 of refraction to be 1 '577. 



It is a very bad conductor of electricity, if it possesses this 

 property at all. An electrical current, obtained from four 

 pairs of a very powerful Bunsen battery, did not produce the 

 least decomposition, although the platinum points became red- 

 hot when in contact under the liquid. A very delicate galva- 

 nometer, which was brought at the same time under the influ- 

 ence of the electrical current, was not removed above 3° from 

 its normal position, even when I endeavoured to produce a 

 maximum of deviation by breaking and closing the circuit. 

 Distilled water under the same circumstances effected a de- 

 viation of 80°. 



With respect to the physiological properties of this body, 

 Runge mentions that he killed leeches by immersing them in 

 a watery solution of cyanol. I have tried its effect upon the 

 organism of larger animals; for instance, I injected into the 

 throat of a rabbit about 0*5 grm. of oil mixed with three times 

 as much water; in a few minutes violent spasms ensued ac- 

 companied by difficult and slow breathing, and a complete 

 prostration of all power. The pupil was dilated, and on 

 shaking the floor the rabbit was seized with violent spasmodic 

 contractions, similar to those produced on narcotized frogs. 

 Twenty-four hours afterwards it had not recovered its normal 

 condition ; the breathing was still slow, and the mucous mem- 



