36 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



ammonic hydrate, crystallizes in prismatic needles ; quite readily solu- 

 ble in hot water, sparingly in cold. Under the microscope it crystal- 

 lizes from hot aqueous solution in rhombic plates. It may be dried at 

 100° without decomposition. It gave on analysis, — 



0.1210 grm. left on ignition 0.0056 grm. silver. 



Calculated for Found. 



AgC,N,Il303. 

 As 45.95 45.95 



There can be no doubt that this substance is identical with that 

 obtained by Dessaigiies* from creatinine, which was first recognized 

 by Strecker f as methylparaban. Dessaignes gives no melting point, 

 but the description given corresponds peifectly with the substance I 

 have obtained ; the only diiference being that I find the substance 

 quite readily soluble in ether, whereas he gives it as somewhat soluble 

 only. 



A consideration of the bearing of these facts upon the structure of 

 uiic acid I shall postpone until I have obtained further results. 



n. — ON SOME OF THE SALTS OF METIIYLURIC ACID, 



C^HstCHsJN.Og. 



By Oscar R. Jackson. 



Presented, June 14, 1876. 



This work was undertaken with the purpose of proving the basicity 

 of methyluric acid. The acid was obtained by the method described 

 by Prof. 11. B. Hill, under whose direction the preparation and analyses 

 of the salts were conducted. 



Owing to the fact that all the dibasic salts absorb carbonic acid very 

 readily when exposed to air, as is the case with the salts of uric acid, 

 special means had to be taken to dry the salts in an atmosphere free 

 from carbonic acid. For this purpose they were dried in vacuo over 

 sulphuric acid, and a few pieces of potassic hydrate were also placed 

 under the receiver when the dibasic salts were dried. For the de- 

 termination of the water of crystallization, the salts were heated to 



* Ann. Chem. u. Pharm. 97, 343. 

 t Ann. Chem. u. Pharm. 118, 164. 



