By JAIIES M. PETRIE. 433 



by taking a much greater quantity of material, and making this a special object 

 of research. 



Exammatioii of the Aqueous Solution, B. 



The aqueous solution : — The voluminous wa.shings and aqueous solutions 

 were concentrated at a low temperature, and freed from a small amount of oil 

 by shaking with petroleum spirit. The solution was then treated with an equal 

 volume of 10 % lead acetate solution, and the brown precipitate removed by the 

 centrifuge and washed. The filtrate was next treated with basic lead acetate 

 solution, and a white precipitate separated in the same way. The lead was re- 

 moved from the solution Ijy sulphuric acid and hydrogen sulphide, and the solu- 

 tion concentrated at 60° C. The hydrogen sulphide was lemoved by an air cur- 

 rent passed through the warm solution. The black solution was shaken up re- 

 peatedly with (1) ether, (2) chloroform and (3) amyl alcohol. Ether removed 

 about 2 gms. of a viscous resinous substance, chloroform removed only a trace, 

 and amyl alcohol a dark brown syru]!. These substances yielded nothing of a 

 crystalline natui-e. They were dissolved in ether and shaken out successively 

 witli ammonium carbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide, neutralised 

 and again agitated with ether, but nothing could be obtained in this way. 



Each of these extracts was carefully tested for alkaloids but only negative 

 results were obtained. 



The aqueous solution remaining after treatment with the above organic sol- 

 vents, was distilled in a current of steam till free from amyl alcohol, and set 

 aside. After some time crystals separated, and these were found to consist only 

 of potassium salts. No tannin was present in this solution, and saponins were 

 absent . 



Picric acid gave a large precipitate of needle crystals of potassium salt. 

 When boiled with potash, much ammonia was evolved, and Fehling's solution 

 showed an immediate and strong reduction . 



The osazones were next prepared from the solution, and when the product 

 was examined under the microscope it was identified as the characteristic yellow 

 crystals of phenyl glucosazone. These were purified by six recrystalUsations 

 from dilute alcohol, and then showed a melting point of 206° C. (corrected). 



The melting point of the osazone of glucose is given as 205° . The pre- 

 dominating sugar is therefore glucose. 



The solution also gave strong reactions for furf uraldehyde . 



The total solid content of this aqueous fluid was 350 gms. or 36 % of the 

 alcoholic extract. 



Ej:amitiation of the lead acetate jirecipitates. — These lead deposits were treated 

 with sulphuric acid and hydrogen sulphide to remove the lead, and the hydrogen 

 sulphide boiled off. The solutions were treated with animal charcoal till nearly 

 colourless and then concentrated. They showed no reactions with ferric chloride 

 or sulphuric acid. When neutralised with sodium hydroxide, heavy gelatinous 

 white precipitates were obtained, and Feliling's solution was strongly reduced. 



The fluid was shaken out with ammonium carbonate, sodium carbonate and 

 sodium hydroxide, then agitated with ether and acid, but nothing was obtained 

 from any of these extracts in this way. The remaining solution from the normal 

 lead precipitate, after standing some time, deposited a considerable amount of 

 anhydrous calcium sulphate, in masses of white, needle-shaped cr>-stals, matted 

 together . 



