r 



ANALYSIS OF MTRKH. ^3*7 



poured 33 gram. [509.5 grs.] of nitric acid at 38**, which 

 turned the resin blackish. The mixture being distilled 

 emitted red vapours, but not very abundantly. After hav- 

 ing obtained a product of about 20 gram. [309 grs.] from 

 this solution, the retort was removed from the tire. A re- 

 siniform substance of an Okrange colour floated in it, which, . ,,,.v. 

 when washed and dried was of a pale yellow, and weighed 

 1*5 gram. [23 grs.]. It was pulverulent, bitter, not very 

 fusible, partly soluble in water, and formed with potash i^ 

 saponaceous compound, which dissolved very easily in water, 

 giving it a red colour, without any diminution of its trans- 

 parency. This resiiiiform substance contains a great deal 

 of carbon, and is sensibly altered by nitric acid, which only 

 dissolves it. In other respects it comporti itself like the 

 resin of gamboge treated with nitric acid. 



The nitric solution, on which this substance floated, being 

 evaporated to dryness, left a residuum, which being well 

 washed, furnished 1 gram. [15*4 grs.] more of the resini- 

 form substance, which had been kept dissolved by means 

 of the nitric acid. Lime-water in excess added to the wa- 

 ters of elutriation separated 1*2 gram. [18*5 grs.] of oxalate 

 of lime mingled with a small portion of malate. The super- 

 niitant liquid contained a bitter yellow matter. 



Sect. III. From these experiments it follows, that myrrh My«rh consist* 

 consists principally of a gum different from the common gum/ ° * 

 kind, the leading properties of which are 



1, To acquire a degree of cohesion from the action of Its chief rha- 

 heat, when its solutions are evaporated, which renders it '■*«^*"s"*** 

 partly insoluble in water : 



2, To give out ammonia when distilled, and nitrogen gas 

 when acted on by nitric acid ; which gives it an affinity to 

 animal substances : 



3, To decompose solutions of lead, mercury, and tin,, 

 and unite with their oxides. 



Myrrh contains likewise about 0*23 of its weight of a very 

 fu«ible bitter resinous matter- 



{To be continued. J 



SCIENTIFIC 



