BY JAMES M. PETRIE. 110 



The solid cotifenf of the inotein-free extract. — A portion 

 of No. 4 extract, after precipitation of the proteins with 

 alcohol, was taken, to ascertain the amount of total solids 

 present in it. Fifty cc. were evaporated in vacuo over sul- 

 phuric acid at ordinary temperature, and dried, over CaCly,, 

 in a vacuum desiccator, to constant weight. The residue was 

 equivalent to 20%, by weight, of the seeds. A larger volume 

 also was evaporated at a gentle heat to a syrup, then put 

 aside for some time to crystallise. After the lapse of a few 

 weeks, it was still a clear yellow syrup showing no signs of 

 crystal-formation. However, on examining it some months 

 later, with a lens, it was observed to contain numerous 

 tyrosin-like clusters or groups of radiating needles. These 

 minute crystals did not possess the opaque white appearance 

 so characteristic of tyrosin, and gave a negative Millon 

 reaction. The residue was then a tough and horny mass. 



Another portion of the same solution, No. 4, was precipi- 

 tated by mercuric nitrate. From the precipitate, the 

 mercury was removed by hydrogen sulphide, and the liquid 

 evaporated, at a very gentle heat, to a syrup, then set aside. 

 After standing many weeks, no crystallisation had taken 

 place, the substance remaining as a clear dark syrup. 



A part of the same solution. No. 4, was then examined for 

 lipoids, by shaking out with pure ether, a number of times. 

 The ethereal liquid was dried with calcium chloride, then 

 evaporated to dryness, and the residue weighed. It amounted 

 to 0-546%, by weight, of the seeds. By assuming the whole 

 of this ether extract to be lecithin (which contains 1-78% of 

 N), the nitrogen required would be 00097, a quantity which 

 amounts to just 0-48% of the non-protein nitrogen. It may, 

 therefore, safely be concluded that the possible lecithin- 

 nitrogen does not exceed 0-5% of the whole non-protein 

 nitrogen present. 



