496 Transactions. —Chemistry and Physics. 



(see below), but a nitrogenous glucoside, corynocarpin, 

 together with a highly soluble, non-nitrogenous, crystalline 

 compound. These substances have not been detected in the 

 fresh extract. (5.) That a compound agreeing in nearly all 

 respects with Skey's karakin can be readily obtained from 

 fresh kernels by extracting with cold alcohol, and subse- 

 quently distilling off the spirit in a partial vacuum. By 

 repeated crystallization from hot alcohol the karakin is ob- 

 tained in radiating acicular crystals. (6.) The quantity of 

 karakin diminishes rapidly with the age of the nut. The 

 yield from fresh nuts gathered in February, 1901, was 

 0-3 per cent. ; nuts three months old only yielded 0-1 per 

 cent. ; after twelve months the nuts were still bitter, but 

 only a small quantity of karakin was obtained from them. 



Karakin. 



Since this compound is the only substance in the fresh 

 nut of any considerable interest, the method of preparation 

 and properties of it shall alone be given in detail. The fresh 

 kernels are first put through a sausage-machine, and then 

 through the wooden rollers of a wringing-machine, and the 

 mash well stirred with one and a half times its weight of 

 methylated spirit and allowed to stand for thirty-six hours, 

 with repeated stirrings. The spirit is removed by a filter-press 

 and the press-cake again extracted with alcohol. The united 

 filtrates are distilled in a partial vacuum, at a temperature not 

 exceeding 35°, until the greater part of the alcohol is removed. 

 The turbid liquid gradually deposits crystals of karakin, 

 together with a gummy bitter substance which can be re- 

 moved by recrystallization from boiling alcohol. The pure 

 karakin melts at 122°, dissolves easily in acetone, methyl 

 alcohol, glacial acetic acid, acetic ether, and phenol ; with 

 difficulty in cold ethyl alcohol (O 4 gram in 100 cc.) and water. 

 It is very sparingly soluble in ether and benzene. Deposited 

 from hot concentrated solutions in water or alcohol, it sepa- 

 rates as an oil, which subsequently becomes crystalline. The 

 compound reduces Fehling's solution readily. After hydro- 

 lysis with dilute hydrochloric acid it gives a yellow precipitate 

 when warmed with sodium-acetate and phenyl-hydrazine 

 solution (glucoside reaction). It is highly nitrogenous. 

 Analysis agrees with the formula (C 5 H 8 N0 5 ) 3 . 



Calculated. Found. 



C = 370 372 



H = 4-9 4-8 



N = 8-6 8-6 



O (by difference) = 49-5 49-4 



1000 1000 



