396 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



of pectase ; 2ndly, by the combination of pectic acid with the or- 

 ganic acids contained in fruits. 



15. The pectose contained in green fruits is successively trans- 

 formed, during ripening, into pectin, metapectin, and metapectic 

 acids. These changes are determined by the influence of acids and 

 pectase. 



It will appear from this summary, in the opinion of the author, 

 that after having ascertained the nature of the principal properties 

 of the substances which constitute the pulp of certain fruits, he was 

 led to observe that the gelatinous substances of vegetables undergo 

 modifications by the influence of reagents entirely comparable to 

 those to which they are subject during vegetation. — Ann. de Ch. et 

 de Phys., Septembre 1848. 



ON SULPHOMORPHIDE AND SULPHONARCOTIDE, DERIVATIVES 

 FROM MORPHIA AND NARCOTINA. BY MM. LAURENT AND 

 GERHARDT. 



In 1845 M. Arppe described a peculiar substance which he ob- 

 tained by treating morphia with an excess of sulphuric acid. To 

 this compound he assigned the formula 4(C 35 H 40 N 2 O 6 ) + 5SO, 

 which is not analogous to any organic compound. 



On considering the manner in which this compound is obtained, 

 the authors thought that its composition would resemble that of the 

 amides and anilides ; and their experiments supported this suppo- 

 sition : they obtained a similar compound with narcotina. 



Sulphomorphide. — This substance was prepared according to M. 

 Arppe's process, by heating morphia with a slight excess of sul- 

 phuric acid. When recently prepared it is white, but eventually it 

 becomes green, even in closed tubes ; this colour is especially deep- 

 ened by drying the product at 266° to 302° Fahr. ; it is permanent, 

 and does not appear to be owing to the action of the air, for the 

 corresponding product, prepared with narcotina, is immediately ob- 

 tained of a deep green colour. 



Sulphomorphide is a fixed body ; heated on platina foil it yields 

 a bulky charcoal, which is extremely difficult to burn. By analysis 

 100 parts yield — 



Carbon 63'0 



Hydrogen .... 5*8 



Sulphur 5*4 



These results lead to the formula C 34 H 3e N 2 O 8 S, that is to say, to 

 the formula of neutral sulphate of morphia, minus two equivs. of 

 water, SO 4 (H 2 , C" H 1! 'N0 3 )— 20H 2 ; these proportions require 



C 34 408 64-5 



H 36 36 5-7 



N 2 28 



S . 32 5-1 



O 9 128 



632 

 It is to be observed, that the quantity of carbon obtained by ana- 



