244 ASPARAGUSi; 



left nothing after its incineration but an almost impercep- 

 tible trace of earth, which no doubt was casually pro. 

 sent. 



Towards the end of the decomposition of this substance, 

 the odour which was disengaged was somewhat similar to 

 that of animal matter, and likewise inclining to that of 

 ammonia. 

 Action of nitric The nitric acid decomposes this substance, nitrous gas 

 being disengaged while the fluid assumes a yellow colour 

 and a bitter taste, like animal substances. When tho 

 action of the nitric acid is completed, lime disengages 

 abundance of ammonia from the liquid. 



This alkali is therefore formed in the operation we have 



described, since the substance from asparagus did not 



afford perceptible signs before. 



General con- This substance is not an acid sincfe it docs not redden 



cuMons. the tincture of tarnsole, and has not the taste which all 



these subst:ances have in a more or less eminent degrQC. 



It is not a neutral salt because it contains neither earth 

 nor alkali ; but as it affords by means of fire the same 

 products as regetables, wcare obliged to consider it as an 

 immediate principle of asparagus. 



It is probable that like them it is composed of hidrogen 



oxigen, and carbon, in particular proportions ; it is nb 



less probable that it has likewise a small quantity of azote ; 



this at least seems to be indicated by the smell, which is 



disengaged by heat, and the ammonia wliich it forms with 



the nitric acid. 



The authors Though we have obtained a considerable quantity of 



intend to pur- ^j^j^ substance, we have not been able to submit it to a 



sue their cxpc- ' 



riments. greater number of experiments, because most part of it was 



scattered in our laboratory, and there only remained the 

 little portion which we gave to Mr. Ilauy to determine 

 its form. We have nevertheless thought it proper to 

 communicate these facts to the Institute, in order to fix 

 the date of its discovery, and it is our intention to proceed 

 in our examination on thtii' return of the asparagus sea- 

 son. We shall also endeavour to ascertain whether this 

 singular matter do not exist in other vegetables. 

 The second With regard to the saccharine matter which we also 



wa8^°^roJaW^'^^^^"'^^'**^®J^^^® °^*^P^'^^S"^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^ sufficient 

 wminfr * ^ quantity 



